The New Zealand Breakers have hope yet for a playoffs berth after an 11-point win over the Cairns Taipans on Sunday afternoon.
REPORT: BREAKERS STAY IN NBL FINALS HUNT
The Taipans’ season however is over as the team now has no mathematical chance of joining the NBL’s top four before the season draws to a close.
Thomas Abercrombie was the top scorer on ground with 19 points for the Breakers while Cedric Jackson had 15 points and 11 assists.
Final score
New Zealand Breakers 85
Cairns Taipans 74
The New Zealand Breakers and the Cairns Taipans both face a must win clash as the NBL season draws to a close. A top-four spot is up for grabs in what promises to be a thriller on Sunday. Join The Roar for lives scores and commentary from 3:00pm (AEDT).
In what shapes up to be a tight race for the fourth and final playoff position, the Breakers and the Taipans must win to stay in touch of a post-season birth. Both teams enter the game looking for their third straight win and are starting to hit form at the right time of the season.
On Friday night, Cairns defeated Adelaide 95–89 thanks to a balanced attack led by Mark Worthington with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. All five starters finished with double figures but they will need more help from the bench if they are going to beat the Breakers in New Zealand.
After a six-game losing streak, the Breakers have won their past two including a huge 22-point win over the 36ers in Adelaide. The defending champions looked fantastic and the backcourt duo of Cedric Jackson (31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, seven threes) and Corey Webster (28 points, three rebounds, three assists) was unstoppable. The Taipans will have their hands full trying to contain these two as they play at a high pace.
It’s a battle of New Zealand’s big three in Cedric Jackson, Corey Webster and Thomas Abercrombie versus the balanced attack of the Taipans (5 players averaging over 10 PPG). The Taipans have no real standout star offensive power but they sit fifth in the rankings thanks to their swift ball movement and shot selection, but this shouldn’t be a problem for the pesky Breakers defence. They are the No.1 ranked defensive team in the league.
Prediction
New Zealand’s big three will be too much for the worst defensive team in the competition in the Cairns Taipans. Look for Cedric Jackson and Corey Webster to have another big game, while Thomas Abercrombie will stretch the defence further with his ability to hit the 3. The Taipans are playing great team basketball at the moment and they are determined to cause an upset in New Zealand and get one step closer to the playoffs, but the task might just be too much.
New Zealand by 9.
Join The Roar from 3pm (AEDT) for scores and debate in our live blog.
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Moving forward, the Breakers will leap frog the 36ers and are now in the top 4. Yes they are the defending champions but i dont think they are at the level shown by the Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United. The Breakers play Melbourne United twice next week so that will be a tough challenge. They must work on their defense, they let plenty of easy shots go in under the basket today. Any way, it was a great win tonight. Good effort by Cairns but they just ran out of stream in the last 5 minutes of the game. Thanks to everyone for following, see you again soon.
paul hanna
Roar Pro
That’s the game. New Zealand: 85 Cairns: 74 Win for the New Zealand Breakers. For the Taipans, the season is over. A great effort tonight for the Taipans. Again they had a nice spread of scorers but Jackson, Webster, Abercrombie plus Charles Jackson off the bench were too good. Not an easy trip to come and beat New Zealand at home. Leading scorers: New Zealand: Abercrombie: 19 Cedric Jackson: 15 Webster: 17 Taipans: Craig: 15 Gliddon: 13 Worthington: 10 Leading rebounders: New Zealand: Vukona: 9 Pledger: 7 Taipans: Craig: 6 Loughton: 6 Leading assists New Zealand: Cedric Jackson: 11 Taipans: Worthington: 6 Overall shooting: New Zealand: 35 – 70 ( 50%) Taipans: 28 – 70 (40%)
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 1 Abercrombie with a nail in the coffin there. He has 16. New Zealand – 82 Cairns – 72
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 2 Big Block by Wesley. Then down the other end even bigger block by Torrey Craig. New Zealand – 80 Cairns – 72
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 3 Starks to the line. Big free throws. Hits the first Hits the second. New Zealand – 78 Cairns – 72
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 3 This is a high pace 4th quarter. Teams running back and forth and starting to look tired. New Zealand – 78 Cairns – 70
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 3 Cedric Jackson again. He has a double double with 13 points and 10 assists. Increases the lead to 8. New Zealand – 76 Cairns – 68
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 4 Cedric Jackson vs Torrey Craig here. Cedric with the steal and fast break. New Zealand – 74 Cairns – 68
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 5 Craig with the BLOCK. WOW. Thats is a huge play, stops the easy 2. That could turn this game. New Zealand – 72 Cairns – 68
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 – 6 Craig just wont stop. Hits the 3 and he is the man for the Taipans. He has 15 on the night. New Zealand – 68 Cairns – 64
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 8 Cedric Jackson must be listening to me, hits the 3 then sets up the assist the next possession. Great stuff New Zealand – 68 Cairns – 61
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q4 - 9 Who will set it up and finish strong for their team. Cedric Jackson has to be the man to run the show. Only shooting 2-8 but does have 8 assists and 5 rebounds. New Zealand – 63 Cairns – 59
paul hanna
Roar Pro
That's it. End of the 3rd New Zealand – 60 Cairns – 59 This game is going down to the wire. Leading scorers: Cairns: Gliddon: 13 Craig: 12 Worthington: 10 Breakers: Webster: 14 Abercrombie: 13 Charles Jackson: 10
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 1 Loughton is so athletic. Hits the shot. New Zealand – 60 Cairns – 59
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 1 Charles Jackson with this 4th foul, offensive this time. He goes to the bench which is big, he has been great. New Zealand – 60 Cairns – 57
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 2 C. Jackson is the energy man. Offensive board and the put back. he has 8 in 9 minutes New Zealand – 60 Cairns – 57
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 3 Bit of feeling here. The refs come in to break it up. Nothing in it, but at least this game is showing something. Time out. New Zealand – 58 Cairns – 56
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 5 Craig again. He is keeping the Taipans in this game. He has 12 now. New Zealand –56 Cairns – 56
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 6 Jackson again with the assist. Thats 7 now. Pledger with 8 New Zealand – 54 Cairns – 52
paul hanna
Roar Pro
Q3 – 6 Craig with the 3. He is so hot and cold today. 3-8 from the field for 8 points. New Zealand – 52 Cairns – 52