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Phoenix Suns vs New Zealand Breakers |
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NBLxNBA 2018, Game 4. Time: Fulltime. |
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| Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, USA | ||
| Phoenix Suns | New Zealand Breakers | |
| 91 | SCORE | 86 |
| 28 | Q1 | 20 |
| 24 | Q2 | 22 |
| 25 | Q3 | 20 |
| 14 | Q4 | 24 |
The New Zealand Breakers will travel to America with high hopes of shaking their end of an era tag when they take on the Phoenix Suns in the fifth NBLxNBA clash. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 12pm – midday (AEST).
The upcoming NBL season is a crucial one for the Breakers.
Long one of the league’s most successful clubs, success has somewhat abandoned them in the last 24 months and now under new coach Kevin Braswell, this shapes as moving year.
They either need to get their act together and rise up the ladder, or it might really be time to start rebuilding the franchise from the ground up.
A new ownership group, including former NBA player Shawn Marion have come in to take over operations, and with Corey Webster returning to the club, it’s a step in the right direction.
Thomas Abercrombie is also still in the fold, while imports Shawn Long, Richard Patrick and Armani Moore will also have huge rolls to play for the Auckland-based club.
Still, they lack size up front with Majok Majok likely to start at the five as their only genuine centre. While some of their forwards can play the combo centre role, it’s not going to be enough long-term and a problem they need to try and fix on the roster.
The Suns finished 2017-18 with the worst record in the league, winning just 21 of their 82 games.
It’s been a tough road for Phoenix fans and in all probability, they will miss the playoffs again this time around, but improvement is necessary and something they should be able to achieve.
They have made some quality signings over the summer, with Western Conference finalists Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza both joining the franchise from the Houston Rockets, while Deandre Ayton was the No.1 pick in the draft.
For NBA fans, Ayton is the one to watch in this fixture. He had a huge summer league for the Suns, averaging a double-double across the four games he played, and without equal in the paint from the Breakers, he could run up a huge tally of points and rebounds here.
If the Breakers are to win, they need a fast-paced, high-scoring game with all of their shooters catching fire from the first minute to the last.
Prediction
It’s hard to see the visitors winning this one. Phoenix won’t have a great season ahead, but Ayton should lead them to victory here.
Suns by 14.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 12pm – midday (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 12pm (AEST)
Venue: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
TV: Live, ESPN
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now
Betting: Suns $1.01, Breakers $25
New Zealand Breakers (expected)
Point guard: Corey Webster
Shooting guard: Richard Patrick
Small forward: Thomas Abercrombie
Power forward: Shawn Long
Centre: Majok Majok
Bench: Finn Delany, Armani Moore, Shea Ili, Jordan Ngatai, Tai Wesley, Jarrad Weeks
Phoenix Suns (expected)
Point guard: Elie Okobo
Shooting guard: Devin Booker
Small forward: TJ Warren
Power forward: Ryan Anderson
Centre: Deandre Ayton
Bench: De’Anthony Melton, Isaiah Canaan, Troy Daniels, Davon Reed, Trevor Ariza, Mikal Bridges, George King, Josh Jackson, Tyson Chandler, Dragan Bender
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NBLxNBA series. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow with practice and qualifying at the Bathurst 1000 from 8:30am (AEST). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That's an awesome performance from the Breakers. They will eventually fall by five points at the Talking Stick Resort Arena, but came pretty close to causing the upset on a great comeback in the final quarter there with Corey Webster leading the way, ending up with 27 points and 7 assists by the time it was all said and done. At the other end, the Breakers lack of size in the paint hurt them, as did a stack of missed shots in the last quarter where they could have easily grabbed the lead. DeAndre Ayton was the key, ending up with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Suns - 91 Breakers - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Warren makes another free throw. Suns - 91 Breakers - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Webster to Wesley. He makes a three this time to cut it to four, then there is another foul with the lead at four. Suns - 90 Breakers - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Warren at the line this time. He makes one. Suns - 90 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' That'll probably just about do it. The Breakers with a miss up the floor, then there is another quick foul against Wesley. Suns - 89 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Harrison makes both. Suns - 89 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Breakers with a turnover, then there is a foul which will put Harrison on the line with 28.7 seconds to go. Suns - 87 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Timeout the Breakers. Suns - 87 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Jackson pinged for an offensive foul with 36.5 seconds on the clock. Suns - 87 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' A missed three for Bender and all of a sudden the Breakers are right in this. Webster now slowing things down, he gets away from Jackson, then it's Abercrombie, but he has it stolen by Harrison. Suns - 87 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Suns to Daniels on the inbound and he misses a contested jumper, before the Breakers go to Webster and he hits a three! Suns - 87 Breakers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Now the Suns to take time. Suns - 87 Breakers - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Breakers with a bucket through Abercrombie off the inbound and that'll cut the lead to seven, then it's Jackson with a missed three, but the Breakers can't control the rebound. Suns - 87 Breakers - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Timeout. 120 seconds on the clock, the Breakers down nine. Suns - 87 Breakers - 78
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Suns back through Anderson and Harrison, before he goes to Ayton who kicks it out to Bender and that's going to go down as a charge. Suns - 87 Breakers - 78
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Wesley makes one. Suns - 87 Breakers - 78
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Richard on the drive this time and he is no good on the lay up with Bender there for the rebound. At the other end, Bender misses a three and the Breakers really need a bucket now to break the cold streak. They work to Wesley and he draws the foul backing down. Suns - 87 Breakers - 77
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Jackson with a jumper now, taking the lead back to ten. Suns - 87 Breakers - 77