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New Zealand Breakers go top of NBL

14th December, 2014
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New Zealand Breakers have surged to top spot in the NBL, while Melbourne and Sydney suffered mid-season stumbles.

The Breakers were the big winners of the halfway round of the season, displacing Perth from top spot with a 77-66 home victory over the Wildcats.

Perth led 44-32 at halftime but were held to just 22 second half points.

Breakers’ backup centre Ekene Ibekwe finished with 18 points from as many minutes and nailed all eight of his field goal tries.

The Kiwi outfit backed up on Sunday with a 92-87 away conquest of Melbourne, retrieving a four-point halftime deficit.

It was a first home defeat in seven games for fourth-placed United, who earlier in the round lost 90-77 away to Adelaide, ending the 36ers’ seven-match losing streak.

Adelaide, who scored ten late unanswered points to sink United, returned to the losers list on Sunday, slumping 97-76 to Perth.

Cairns retained third spot with a 77-61 home win over North Queensland rival Townsville, who shot just 29 per cent from the field.

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Fifth placed Sydney also had a shooting night to forget, crashing 82-77 at intra-state rival Wollongong, despite a 34-point barrage from star import Josh Childress.

An 11-point last quarter burst from guard Rhys Martin and 14 points 12 rebounds and four blocks from centre Luke Nevill, helped the last-placed Hawks to an upset win.

Former NBA player Childress said Sydney “played liked they were too cool.”

He should have said they were ice-cold.

Apart from Childress and centre Angus Brandt, Sydney’s only other double digit scorer, the other Kings made only nine of their 43 combined field goal tries.

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