Basketball: Breakers hold out in physical clash

CJ Burton. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Breakers held out in a tight, tense finish to edge out the Perth Wildcats 82-79 in an Australian National Basketball League in Auckland tonight.

In a see-sawing and physical battle, the table-topping Breakers' unbeaten record in 2011 had looked under threat with nine seconds to go at the North Shore Events Centre.

Perth had possession and were down just 80-79 as Kevin Lisch drove to the basket, only to lose his footing on the slippery surface and turn over possession.

The Breakers moved the ball down the court, Kirk Penney was fouled and the star guard, who shot impressively all night, landed both free throws to finish with a game-high 21 points.

The result extended the Breakers' winning streak to seven matches since a New Year's Eve defeat in Townville.

It also took their season record to 17-3 with eight fixtures to go and gave them the series against the Wildcats 2-1.

They were without veteran forward Dillon Boucher, who was recovering from a nasty head gash suffered against Melbourne last week, while Corey Webster also sat out with a back injury.

Development player BJ Anthony made a good fist of filling in for Boucher, providing nine points and plenty of energy.

CJ Burton chipped in 20 points and Gary Wilkinson with 12 points and six rebounds, while Mika Vukona was again strong under the board with 10 rebounds.

The Wildcats, who had gone into the encounter third on the table, also had a couple of notable absentees in influential skipper Shawn Redhage, out for the season with a bad hip injury, and Matt Knight, unavailable because of a corked calf.

But they show plenty of resilience in a clash that didn't lack for intensity.

They never let the Breakers out of their sights and, just as in their 96-94 defeat in Auckland in round two in October, will feel they lost a match that was well within their reach.

They out-rebounded the Breakers, with Andre Brown (10) and Damian Martin (eight) leading the way, and their team total of 21 offensive rebounds played a big part in keeping them in the game.

Despite his late slip, Lisch topped the scoring for the visitors with 17 points, while Brown contributed 14 and Drew Williamson and Damian Martin 10 each.

The Breakers now travel to the Gold Coast to face the Blaze on Sunday.

- NZPA