Basketball: Win over Bullets a shot in the arm

Breakers 111 Brisbane 106

The Breakers ended a four game losing slump in spectacular style last night, beating NBL heavyweights Brisbane for the first time at home and for only the second time in four years.

On the back foot after losing two away games on Saturday and Monday night, the Breakers returned home only yesterday and were given little chance of beating the Bullets, who were already smarting after losing to Perth last weekend.

The Breakers provided a variation on their usual pattern, going off the boil after halftime to allow Brisbane back into the game, but then pulling themselves together to regain the initiative in the final quarter.

Carlos Powell lead the Breakers scoring with 22 points but received excellent support from skipper Paul Henare, who nailed a career-high 21 points, and centre Ben Pepper made his presence felt throughout the game to end with 18.

Bullets star CJ Bruton tried in vain to keep his side in the hunt with some strong perimeter shooting and ended with 25 points, and teammates Dusty Rychart and Sam Mackinnon chimed in with 18 and 16, respectively.

On any other occasion, the Breakers' bright start to the game would have been a reason for optimism, but after squandering several strong positions already this season, the New Zealand franchise would not have been counting their chickens.

Coach Andrej Lemanis went with his conventional starting five and left Tall Black guard Aaron Olson on the bench, while the Bullets opened up with Rychart, Ebi Ere, former Breaker Dillon Boucher, Mackinnon and Bruton.

The Breakers were quickly out of the blocks to seize the early initiative; Oscar Forman leading all scorers in the first quarter with 11 points and centre Ben Pepper working diligently inside to add 7.

The Bullets weren't helped by Mackinnon falling into early foul trouble, but even then they were woefully off the pace, trailing at one stage by 19 points midway through the second period before going to halftime 12 adrift.

The Breakers next game is against Townsville at home next Thursday night.