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Round 14 of the NBL season rolls on tonight in Auckland as the New Zealand Breakers aim to move one game closer to top spot when they go head to head with the Adelaide 36ers. Join The Roar from 5:25pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
Mika Vukona will headline tonight’s contest, as the Breakers forward will be suiting up for his 350th NBL match. Vukona will become the first ever New Zealander to join the NBL’s 350-game club.
Throughout his career, Vukona has been one of the NBL’s most respected individuals, as his had stints with both the South Dragons and the Gold Coast Blaze but the Breakers has always been his team. Out of his 350 games, 282 of them have come in a New Zealand Breaker uniform, which is a club-record.
Breakers forward Thomas Abercrombie had some high praise for Vukona, as he told NBL.com.au, “He is the captain of our team, the leader; he’s the one we turn to in tough times. A lot of the culture we’ve been able to build is because of the way he leads and communicates with everyone. He’s been a massive part of establishing what this club is all about.”
On the season, Vukona is averaging 5.93 points and 7 rebounds a game in 23.46 minutes per night. Vukona’s productivity goes beyond the stat sheet though, as his boisterous style of play and hard-nosed attitude is enough to validate his spot on the court.
While a lot of the attention will be on Vukona, and rightfully so, tonight’s game will feature a brilliant battle at the guard position as the NBL’s top-two leading scorers, Corey Webster and Jerome Randle, go head-to-head.
Webster returned to New Zealand after just missing out on the New Orleans Pelicans roster and has looked amazing. He is averaging 23.86 points per game, while shooting 43.4per cent from the field and 39.9per cent from the three-point arc. Webster’s ability to finish at the basket combined with his outside jumper makes him a headache for opposition defences and Adelaide is sure to have their hands full tonight.
Randle has been a pleasant surprise for the 36ers this season, as his brought a much-needed edge to an Adelaide outfit who struggled out of the gates but have now won two in a row to get back to .500, as they sit 5th on the NBL ladder at 9-9. Randle does his work around the basket and in the midrange, as he is shooting 44.4per cent from the field but just 30.5per cent from beyond the three-point arc.
Many would argue that Randle is a more effective player than Webster, though, as Randle is tenth in the league in Player Efficiency Rating, posting a PER of 19.7. Randle also chips in with 5.07 assists per game and is undoubtedly the leader for the 36ers.
Although, Randle and the 36ers face a tough task in New Zealand, as the Breakers are the NBL’s best defensive unit, as they give up 101.6 points per 100 possessions, which is first in the league. The Breakers rank only sixth in offensive rating, so it’s been their defence, which has allowed them to once again be legitimate championship contenders.
Prediction
Vukona’s milestone night adds some more motivation for the Breakers to get up for tonight’s contest but milestone or not, they should handle the 36ers either way. Adelaide smashed New Zealand in the season opener but since then the Breakers have avenged that loss and they will take the lead in the season series tonight.
Breakers by 14 points
Will Adelaide spoil the party on Vukona’s 350-game celebration? Join The Roar from 5:25pm (AEDT) to find out with live scores and updates.
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