The New Zealand Breakers play host to the Cairns Taipans on Friday night at the Vector Arena, at 5:30pm AEDT. This will be the first time the teams square off for the 2016/17 NBL season.
The Breakers come into the game on the back of a three-game winning streak after a 16-point home win over the Brisbane Bullets in Round 5. Cairns split their matchups with the Sydney Kings last week, winning at home 64-57 before losing in Sydney on the buzzer 77-79, thanks to a Kevin Lisch step-back jumper as time expired.
The money says that the Breakers should take this one pretty comfortably, but don’t rule out the Taipans. Their impressive ball movement and team defense will give New Zealand plenty of headaches.
Playing without explosive point guard Travis Trice and rim protector Alex Loughton, Cairns have had to look to their bench to produce big numbers and the call has been answered by Jarrad Weeks, Mitch McCarron and Damon Heuir. Once Trice and Loughton return, the exposure the Taipans reserves have had will stand them in good stead as the season gets down to the business end.
Things can’t get much better for New Zealand. They’ve been playing unbelievable team basketball and have kept the score-keepers busy, averaging 101 points during their winning run.
The only hiccup for the Breakers is the injury that has sidelined starting point guard Ben Woodside. However, it looks like that problem has been sorted as well, with the announcement of David Stockton joining the roster. The son of NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton brings plenty of basketball knowledge from across the world. David played college at the University of Gonzaga, and played for the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, before taking his talents to Croatia. For anyone who watched his dad play in the 90s, seeing David in the NBL will bring back memories of crafty ball handling, sweet jump shots and plenty of assists.
Cairns will have to bring their absolute best to the Vector Arena if they are to derail the Breakers, if they are slightly off, New Zealand will make them pay.
Prediction
New Zealand by 7 points.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from 5:30pm (AEDT).
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jeez another big win for Cairs. Beginning to think I underestimated them.
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
That's all we have for you from the Vector Arena in Auckland. The Taipans fly home with smiles on their faces. While the Breakers have to recover fast as they jump on a plane for the longest road trip in the NBL, an away game in Perth on Sunday. My name is Phil Raymond and I'll see you tomorrow for the Adelaide/Illawarra game. Thanks for joining me and for all your live sports and views, keep your eye on The Roar!
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
FULLTIME STATS NZ 47% FG 15 Turnovers 34 Points in Paint CAIRNS 56% 3FG 22 Points in Paint 24 Points of Turnovers
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Cam Gliddon owned the game tonight! He shot 9/11 from the field and 5/6 from downtown for 25 points. Mark Worthington added 17 points and 7 assists. For the Breakers, Abercrombie had 18 points, Webster dropped 17 and Penney added 16.
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 0' NZ sets a late play to find Abercrombie in the corner and he pads his stats with 3 more. FULL TIME NZ 79 - 86 CAIRNS
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 0' NZ tries to trap McCarron but he finds Egwu all alone under the ring and he knows what to do with it. SLAM DUNK! TIMEOUT NZ 19 seconds to go in this one. NZ 76 - 86 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 0' Webster takes a walk and that's a travel! He's then called for a quick foul, sending McCarron to the line for 2. He nails both. Penney misses from outside but gets the ball back as is fouled going to the rim. 2/2 from the line. NZ 76 - 84 Cairns TIMEOUT CAIRNS
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 0' THIS IS CAM GLIDDON'S GAME! Shakes, bakes, drops Mitchell and rolls in the layup to ice this game! TIMEOUT NZ NZ 74 - 82 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 1' Cairns have the ball after the timeout. Gliddon misses the long ball, as does Penney. NZ 74 - 80 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 1' Apologies for the lack of commentary, my computer decided to have a hissy fit. Scores are NZ 74 - Cairns 80
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 4' Worthington forces the issue and is fouled on his way to the ring. As a 90% FT shooter, he rattles in the first... no mistake with the second either. NZ 70 - 72 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 5' Great defensive possession from the Breakers causes the shot clock violation. Worthington picks up the foul. Penney can't hit the 3 but Tueta finds the rebound and Abercrombie ties the game with a 3. NZ 70 - 70 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 6' Reach in foul on Abercrombie. Cairns take it from the side, Gliddon misses his first shot of the game! Vukona posts, spins and drops a pretty reverse. Gliddon makes up for his miss with another 3 ball. NZ 67 - 70 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q4 10' Jawai puts down 2 and Gliddon hits 3 off the turnover. Loe answers with a 3 and some talk in Jawai's ear. McCarron joins the 3 party from the corner. What a first minute in this last quarter. POINTS LEADERS NZ Webster 17 Pts Cairns Gliddon & Edwin 14 Pts NZ 65 - 67 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 1' Jawai called for the offensive foul and Rob Loe lets him know about it. Loughton hits from midrange. Webster makes him look silly at the other end, breaking his ankles and nailing the 3 from long range as Loughton lays on the floor. Gliddon is fouled just before the quarter ends. He drops the first... and the second. QUARTER END NZ 62 - 59 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 2' Apologies to Damon HEUIR for the poor spelling. He puts in another 2 after Tueta hits from long range. NZ 59 - 55 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 3' Huier nails his first basket from downtown. But there's that man again... Penney adds yet another 3. NZ 56 - 52 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 4' Cairns literally threw the ball out from the inbounds. This game is not pretty as NZ hand the ball back, Edwin hits from inside and Webster answers with the step back from the baseline. NZ 53 - 50 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 6' Webster showing all his driving skills as he goes to the hole again. Worthington bails Cairns out with a late 3. NZ 51 - 48 Cairns
Phil Raymond
Roar Guru
Q3 7' ABERCROMBIE!!! Beautiful spin moves gets him to the bucket for 2 more. Edwin with the handles and the jumper for 2. Vukona bullies his way to the ring for a rare basket. He then commits the foul at the other end on Edwin. He hits 1/2. NZ 49 - 45 Cairns