KEY POINTS:
A barrage of three-pointers in an inspired third quarter helped the New Zealand Breakers to their third straight Australian National Basketball League victory in Auckland tonight.
Led by bench player Phill Jones, whose 32-point haul included an outrageous three pointer from deep in his own half at the three-quarter time buzzer, the Breakers outgunned the Wollongong Hawks after being down 58-53 at halftime.
The victory, the fifth straight win at the North Shore Events Centre for the home team, consolidated the Breakers' position in the top six of the NBL while leaving the Hawks second from bottom.
The Breakers were down for much of the first quarter but took a 30-26 lead at quarter time following a number of three pointers from Jones, the Tall Blacks guard.
They were up 47-43 at one stage before a nine-point unanswered streak courtesy of Cameron Tragardh, Kavossy Franklin and Ben Castle took the Hawks into the lead.
After half time, however, only one team was in it. Kirk Penney and Tony Ronaldson, both of whom were kept quiet in the first half, joined Jones in the three-point blitz, while Rick Rickert proved a handful for the Hawks under the hoop.
By three-quarter time it was 94-82 to the Breakers after Jones' amazing shot, and the Hawks offered little resistance in the final quarter as the Breakers strolled to their win.
- NZPA
