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 |
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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FULL-TIME In the third game in the 2019 NBLxNBA tour OKC Thunder walk away decisive winners over the NZ Breakers. The game opened in the Thunder's favour. Despite strong efforts from the visitors in the opening minutes, OKC managed their largest individual margin in the first with 15-29. In the second, they reached their highest score for the game (33), with Steven Adams and Hamidou Diallo proving dominant for the home crowd. Robert Loe and Brandon Ashley recorded plenty in the Breaker's 20 point term as the Thunder extended to a 37-point lead. The Thunder continued to lift after the break as OKC struggled momentarily off the drive. They managed 22-28 with efforts from RJ Hampton and Scotty Hopson not going unnoticed. The Breakers won their first term in the fourth, winning 27-20. FIBA World Cup star, Corey Webster emerged with consecutive scores along with Weeks to close out a valiant team effort. Steven Adams led in both points and rebounds for OKC, earning 19 with 10 rebounds, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 18. Dennis Schroder led on assists with six as Hamidou Diallo rounded out a strong performance with six rebounds, one steal and 16 points. For the Breakers Robert Loe led scoring on 19 with five rebounds, one assist and one block. Scotty Hopson followed close on 15 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Corey Webster and Brandon Ashley finished with 10 apiece. RJ Hampton improved dramatically from last week to hit eight points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Next up in the NBLxNBA tour we have the Melbourne United facing the LA Clippers on Monday. Breakers - 84 Thunder - 110
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Q4 0' The Thunder run out the clock, bringing the game to a close as decisive winners. Breakers - 84 Thunder - 110
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Q4 1' Webster hits the jumper. Breakers - 84 Thunder - 110
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Q4 2' Weeks hits his one from the line. Patton muscles his way to the ring on the opposing end for the easy float. OKC keep with the hustle to win the ball back in defense. Breakers respond with three. Breakers - 82 Thunder - 110
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Q4 3' Webster finds room for another three as Bazley goes up with the right on the opposite end. Weeks goes up for the lay - securing the and-one before a Breakers' time-out. Breakers - 78 Thunder - 108
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Q4 4' Patton gets inside for the slam as Bazley gets called for the foul on the other end. Webster hits a deep two. Breakers - 73 Thunder - 106
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Q4 4' Dort hustles for the possession, dishes to Nader at Range for three. Breakers - 71 Thunder - 104
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Q4 5' The Breakers hit one and OKC respond in kind. Breakers - 71 Thunder - 101
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Q4 6' Burton hits the jumper to get scoring started again for OKC. Hopson responds with a dunk. Breakers - 69 Thunder - 99
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Q4 6' Weeks goes to the line, misses both but gets the rebound and hits the jumper. Breakers - 67 Thunder - 97
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Q4 8' OKC lose the ball with a botched pass. Breakers work to the corner three - rims out. Breakers - 65 Thunder - 97
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Q4 9' Nader steps back for three - misses. Ashley works his way to the ring but fails against Patton for the put. He makes no mistake the second time, hitting from range. Breakers - 65 Thunder - 97
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Q4 10' Dort hits the three, then gets the steal in defense. Diallo makes them pay with a wide open lay. Breakers - 62 Thunder - 97
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Q4 10' OKC step in with the up and under lay as Majok makes an important score on the opposite end. Breakers - 62 Thunder - 92
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Q4 11' OKC take the first shot from range - miss. Breakers follow with a three. Breakers - 60 Thunder - 90
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THREE QUARTER-TIME Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up a strong third term despite a few consecutive misses from the Thunder outfit. Hampton imposed himself a little more on the contest, with Loe continuing his impact under the ring. Breakers - 57 Thunder - 90
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Q3 0' Alexander hits one high over the defender to close out the term. Breakers - 57 Thunder - 90
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Q3 1' Hampton hits both. Alexander tried for the step-back - missed. As Diallo gets the rebound for a big dunk over Hampton. Hampton responds with the left handed lay as OKC make no mistake on the opposing end. Breakers - 57 Thunder - 88
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Q3 1' Alexander goes to the line and hits two. Henry fails to hit the tight pass as Hampton comes back in transition, falling hard with some contact at the rim. He'll go to the line. Breakers - 53 Thunder - 84
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Q3 2' Burton puts a one handed 180 shot to open following the break. Hampton responds on the opposite end, bouncing to Hopson for a huge dunk. OKC respond with the three. Breakers - 53 Thunder - 82