Breakers 95
Taipans 75
A remarkable display of shooting from Kirk Penney and CJ Bruton carried the Breakers to an impressive opening night NBL victory over the Cairns Taipans on the North Shore last night.
Penney had the hot hand early and ended with 32 points but even the reigning MVP struggled to match Bruton's near perfect effort.
The Australian point guard didn't miss a shot until attempting a long three over the hands of Rich Melzer mid-way through the final quarter.
Bruton's fitness was rated at just 80 per cent going into the match following off-season elbow and ankle surgeries but, with his haul of 28 points including eight-of-nine from the three point line, the mind boggles at what he might achieve when fully healthy.
Having their two big guns in such prolific form this early in the season is certainly a bonus for the Breakers, but it was far from the only positive.
New import Awvee Storey was still finding his feet but he slotted in comfortably to a defence that seemed to click from the outset.
The Breakers were also dominant on the boards, Dillon Boucher leading the way with seven as they out-rebounded the Taipans 36-26.
They will face better teams than the Taipans, who relied heavily on former Breakers Phill Jones (24 points) and Melzer (12 points), but there is no doubt the Breakers made an early statement that their favouritism for the title may not be misplaced.
Penney, however, wasn't about to get carried away.
"It is way too early, it is the first game of the year," he said. "We have got a very good team, the rest of the league know that and we know that. But we haven't really done anything yet."
Penney, whose 32 points included eight from 11 three-pointers, was surprised the Taipans left him and Bruton open to shoot from distance.
"Cairns gave us pretty good looks. They didn't run us off the three like I thought they would. I'm sure teams will make adjustments but it was nice to get in the groove. We've still got to knock the shots down and CJ did a great job, especially late in the game."
The Breakers took a four-point lead into the second quarter but a sloppy start saw the Taipans draw level almost immediately.
Penney nailed consecutive threes and Bruton quickly chipped in with his third long bomb to give the Breakers a game-high nine-point lead. The pair combined to nail their first seven shots from distance before a Penney miss finally broke the perfect run.
Tom Abercrombie, who caught a finger in the eye from Jones, endured some nervy touches in his first match since being promoted to a full contract but also showed his class with some eye-catching defensive plays as the Breakers stretched their lead into double figures.
But they weren't the same team when Penney went to the bench and a Jones three sparked a rally that saw the Taipans close to within four, before Tony Ronaldson nailed a three with four seconds remaining in the half.
The veteran forward was fouled attempting the shot and he converted the only Breakers free throw of the half to send them to the break leading 44-36.
Bruton added three more threes and a neat jump shot in the third as the Breakers kept their lead comfortably in double figures. Penney's sixth three of the night and a lay-up following a steal by Storey blew the lead out to 15 and the Breakers never looked back.
