14 Dec 2014

Breakers do it tough but go top in Melbourne

6:05 pm on 14 December 2014

The New Zealand Breakers have beaten Melbourne United 92-87 in their Australian basketball league clash in Melbourne, to reclaim the outright lead in the NBL.

Mika Vukona

Mika Vukona Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Mika Vukona's record 251st game for the club saw a victory, and the Breakers go outright top again above Cairns.

And it goes some way to make up for their worst performance of the season. They suffered a humiliating 95-74 loss when they played in Melbourne earlier this year, but on Sunday the Breakers won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the hosts and shooting 46.3 percent from the floor, and an impressive 40.9 percent of their three-pointers.

Cedric Jackson shot a clutch three on the buzzer to tie the scores 23-23 at the end of the first quarter, but Melbourne led 45-41 at half-time.

The Breakers won the third quarter to take a 66-64 lead before a hot and cold final quarter caused it to go down to the last minute.

They shot out to a 10-point lead before going behind again, then it went down to the wire before a crucial turnover saw the visitors fouled, never losing possession again and extending their lead from the penalty stripe.