The New Zealand Breakers are in the box seat of their Australian National Basketball League Grand Final after beating the Perth Wildcats in the first match-up at Auckland's North Shore on Thursday.
The Breakers won 104-98 in overtime and now go to Perth next week for the second of three matches.
The defending champions nearly blew a 15-point lead at half-time but fought back in the fourth quarter to level the scores at fulltime and a crucial three-pointer by CJ Bruton sealed the tie.
