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The New Zealand Breakers have recorded a hard-fought, incredibly important nine-point victory over Melbourne United in game one of their NBL semi-final series at Hisense Arena.
Playing away from home, the pressure was on Melbourne United to get the win, and go to New Zealand for game two with a series lead. You could tell the pressure was on from the get go, as the Breakers built a solid lead.
In fact, the Breakers were up by 17 after just six minutes of play, limiting United to 4 points in that time period. Cedric Jackson, Thomas Abercrombie and Corey Webster all started the game on another level.
One of the key killers for United early on, and a recurring trend throughout the game was their inability to crash the glass, play aggressively and get rebounds.
The Breakers ended with a rebounding advantage of seven, and were smashing it on the offensive end.
United, or more to the point Hakim Warrick would answer back throughout the end of the first quarter, and bring the game back to a single figure score. United went onto a 10-2 run at one point, with Warrick draining four straight shots in his first minutes on court.
With an 11-point game at the quarter time break, the Breakers would continue to surrender their lead, as Chris Goulding got hot in a hurry, and the Breakers lost their shooting edge.
Goulding was joined by Todd Blanchfield, and with Warrick still going great guns inside, it was tough for the Breakers to hold their lead.
By the time half-time rolled around, the Breakers had fallen three points behind.
At the start of the third quarter though, it was the Breakers who were able to regain the ascendancy, and pull away from United once more. United lost their attack again, and the rebounds were really piling up.
With big shots being made by their bench unit, the Breakers were able to pull away with a four-point lead by three-quarter time.
Charles Jackson would be fouled out with 9:02 still to play, and United came right back into the game. However, down and out with two minutes to go, 12 points behind they would start the process of fouling.
After sending Cedric Jackson to the line twice, for the return of one free throw, and some big possessions down the other end, United were able to cut the lead down to six points.
However, a wasted possession by them with just half a minute to go, saw Alex Pledger run the length of the floor, and wrap the first game up for the Breakers.
United now have to overcome all the odds, with the second game at the Vector Arena in Auckland. United have been beaten there twice this season by a combined total of 48 points, and the Breakers won 11 of their 14 home games throughout the season.
This could well be all over in two games after a brilliant victory for the Breakers this evening in Melbourne.
Final Score
Melbourne United 82
New Zealand Breakers 91
The NBL semi-finals get under way as minor premiers Melbourne United take on the New Zealand Breakers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
United might be wishing they hadn’t taken out the minor premiership, as they now play the Breakers in the semi-final, instead of the Illawarra Hawks.
While United will get two games at home, a win tonight would take all the pressure off as they head to New Zealand, where they have been beaten by a combined 48 points in their two games this season.
The season series between the Breakers and United was taken by the Breakers three games to one, after they won both meetings between the teams last week.
The first, at home, saw United rest a number of starters and get smashed by 37, before the second saw the Breakers rest Corey Webster and still win by two points.
The pair of victories hands all momentum to the Breakers, and they will look to make the most of this by getting on top early in the game, silencing the strong crowd expected at Hisense Arena.
Disregarding Round 19 form, the Breakers had won three in a row, which is now up to five, while United had won four of their last five, so both teams were in solid form.
The biggest battle in this game will be between the guards, as Cedric Jackson and Corey Webster for the Breakers take on Stephen Holt and Chris Goulding for United. All can shoot and pass with the best of them, and they could decide the series.
Prediction
Despite all the momentum being with the Breakers, United should go up a gear, and match their performance from their first nine matches of the season.
United by 12.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the first semi-final in this series from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde