The New Zealand Breakers have bounced back from a run of three straight losses with a 26-point win over the Adelaide 36ers at home.
Final score
New Zealand Breakers 119
Adelaide 36ers 93
The New Zealand Breakers look to snap a three-game losing streak as they play host to the Adelaide 36ers at the Vector Arena on Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game from 5:30pm (AEDT).
The Breakers will be hoping to turn around their disappointing early season form when they return to their home court for the first time since Round 1.
The Breakers defeated Melbourne United 76-71 in that match, their season-opener, but in the weeks since they have lost to the Perth Wildcats 75-73, Sydney Kings 78-92, and Brisbane Bullets 88-82.
It’s an unusually slow start for a team that has been a competition heavyweight for many years now, and they’ll be desperate to get things back on track with a win at home today.
Adelaide fly to Auckland on the back of wins against Brisbane and Cairns. Confidence is key for the young 36ers team and a win against the Breakers will do wonders for Joey Wright’s men.
They’ve got a 3-2 record so far in this season, losing to Melbourne United 87-98 and the Illawarra Hawks 122-88, but taking wins over the Bullets 93-96 and the Taipans 83-67 – and evening the ledger with United 79-87.
Led by the Batman and Robin tandem of Jerome Randle and Nathan Sobey, Adelaide have been the team to watch in the early stages of this year’s NBL season. New Zealand’s guards will need to be in top defensive form to stop the red hot duo.
Prediction
You can never rule out a team that features a scorer like Randle, but look for New Zealand use all of their veteran savvy to win and get their season back on track.
New Zealand to win by 8 points.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game from 5:30pm (AEDT).
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
That's all we have for you from the Vector Centre. Thanks for joining me, I've been Phil for The Roar. Round 4 continues tomorrow with games featuring the Sydney Kings vs Brisbane and the Illawarra Hawks vs the Cairns Taipans. Take care and we'll see you next time.
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
New Zealand will look to carry this momentum into Round 5, with tough games against Melbourne United (away) and the Brisbane Bullets (home). Adelaide will need to regroup and put this one behind them. Things don't get any easier for the 36ers as they travel to Perth for a matchup with the Wildcats. Key Stats: NZ 57% FG NZ 31 - 17 Assists NZ 64 - 13 Bench Points
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
This game was over early! The Breakers shot out of the blocks with some hot shooting in the first half. They didn't let Adelaide back in the game and will take a lot of confidence out of their performance. Leader scorers for both teams: NZ Penney 27 pts (7-8 from 3 point land) Webster 22 pts off the bench Adelaide Sobey 32 pts (new season high) Randle 20 pts
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
End of Q4 Deng pads his stats with a nice fall away jumper as the siren sounds. This one finishes 119 - 93
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 1' Mitchell backs down Hodgson and shakes, bakes and is fouled. He bricks the first badly and swishes the second. NZ 119 - 91
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 1' Delany shows what he has in his bag of tricks with a sweeping hook shot in the lane. Hodgson is fouled at the other end, he misses both and commits the lane infringement. NZ 118 - 91
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 2' Timeout called as both coaches empty their benches. It may be junk time, but its important for these players to show something in these last couple of minutes.
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 3' Delany with the beautiful wrap around pass to Mitchell who finishes under the ring. Another foul by NZ sees Deng add 2 more. Ngatai on the end of the passing string to put in his first basket. NZ 116 - 91
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 3' Big block by Hodgson at one end and Doyle pushes the tempo at the other, getting fouled. He can only go 1/2. NZ 112 - 89
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 4' The spark is well and truly gone from this one. Teys is knocked out of court and hits both foul shots. Mitchell is free under the ring after NZ break the press. He gently throw one down. Sobey is fouled by Penney attempting a 3. He adds 2/3. NZ 112 - 88
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 5' Sobey is hacked on the defensive rebound. Adelaide are in the bonus, so they walk the floor and he puts in 1/2. Johnson finishes inside for 2. Penney is bumped by Sobey and heads to the foul line. He's automatic from there. NZ 110 - 84
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 6' Rob Loe likes his scoring chances tonight. He runs the break and adds 2 more to the board. Johnson is fouled on the up and under move. Mark up another 2 for him. NZ 108 - 81
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 6' Loe showing all the moves with a turn around jumper. Randle decides its his turn to hit from the corner... adding 3 more to his total. Mitchell is fouled at the rim. He misses both. NZ 106 - 79
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 7' Broken record stuff here... Randle goes to the line for 2 after getting fouled. And yes... he hits both. And just to add to the broken record... Loe hits a corner three NZ 104 - 76
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 8' Randle is fouled again - rattles in the fould shots. Adelaide get a steal and Sobey puts in his standard dunk. He then fouls Webster at the other end and its called an Intentional. Webster is 100% from the line and NZ cross the 100. NZ 101 - 74
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 8' Jacobsen makes sure Abercrombie can't make the highlight reel with the hard foul. Abercrombie has 15 as he hits 2/2. NZ 99 - 70
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 9' Loe grabs the rebound and puts it back in for 2. He then finds Mitchell underneath who puts in the 2 and gets fouled. He can't make it a three point play. NZ 97 - 70
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 10' Johnson hits on the reverse to start the 4th. A foul is called against him and Joey Wright doesn't like it - he picks up the technical. Webster adds 1. NZ 93 - 70
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
End of Q3. Mitchell misses both from the line. Adelaide come down for the last shot and Sobey is successfull from WAY DOWNTOWN. NZ 92 Adelaide 68
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q1 0.19' Mitchell is fouled as he attempts to throw one down on the heads of 2 defenders. He'll take 2 from the charity strike after the timeout.