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FINAL SCORES | ||
|---|---|---|
| NBLxNBA 2019: New Zealand Breakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder | ||
| Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City | ||
| Match time: Fulltime | ||
| Breakers | vs | Thunder |
| 84 | Score | 110 |
| 15 | Q1 | 29 |
| 20 | Q2 | 33 |
| 22 | Q3 | 36 |
| 27 | Q4 | 12 |
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The New Zealand Breakers will go head-to-head with the Oklahoma City Thunder this Friday in the third bout of the NBLxNBA 2019 tour. Join The Roar for all the action, with live scores and a blog of the match starting at 11am (AEDT).
The upcoming match-up will follow the Breakers’ impressive performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, where they fell 108-94.
Corey Webster led the NZ side with 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, though along with Scotty Hopson, missed the opening eight shots to put NZ at an immediate 12-2 disadvantage.
After half-time the Breakers started making shots, with Hopson and Rob Loe finishing the contest with 16 and 12 points respectively.
Breakers’ Next Star RJ Hampton continued to garner attention in the lead-up, dating back to his election to play overseas over of college basketball.
The projected top-10 NBA Draft pick came up against 2019’s no. 2 pick Ja Morant, falling short against the NBA rookie with 1-of-8 shooting (2), six rebounds and one assist compared to four points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
Despite an underwhelming effort, RJ Hampton averaged 17 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in his first four NBL preseason games and took him just two games to reach 20 points (five rebounds, three assists and two steals).
So far the NBLxNBA 2019 tour has recorded two losses for the international teams, with the Adelaide 36ers going down 81-133 against the Utah Jazz.
OKC opened their preseason well on Wednesday, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 119-104.
With the departure of Russell Westbrook and Paul George going to the Houston Rockets and the LA Clippers respectively, a lot of responsibility fell to New Zealand born Steven Adams to take control.
Adams managed 17 points, three assists and three rebounds from 21 minutes, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led scoring on 24 with four rebounds and one assist.
Chris Paul played his first game for the Thunder, clocking in 17 minutes with six points, four assists and three rebounds.
Former Adelaide 36ers guard Terrance Ferguson also scored 12 from 19 minutes, trailing just behind Dennis Schroder as the fourth-highest OKC scorer.
In 2017 the Thunder came incredibly close to falling to an NBL side, after winning just 86-85 over the Melbourne United despite having NBA All-Stars Westbrook and George both present.
After the Breakers impressive performance against the Grizzlies, there may be a chance for an upset in tomorrow’s clash.
Prediction
I think the Breakers will have learned from Wednesday’s errors and will pull off an upset against OKC.
Breakers by 3 points.
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
When: 12pm (AEST)
Watch: NBL TV, SBS on Demand
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