The Breakers have reignited their NBL campaign with a fighting 96-89 win over the Brisbane Bullets in Auckland.
Tom Abercrombie Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After building up a nine-game winning streak, the Breakers had lost momentum with an 89-73 loss to Perth Wildcats followed by a listless 81-76 defeat to Brisbane on Sunday.
Four days later, a more clinical shooting performance and some superb offensive rebounding put them back on track against a Bullets outfit yet to record a win on the road this season.
A Tom Abercrombie trey opened the scoring for the Breakers, followed in quick time by a second from DJ Newbill as the Breakers worked hard on an up-tempo start after Sunday's lacklustre loss.
Daniel Kickert and Tom Jervis combined to nail 16 points between them in the opening quarter for Brisbane, the Bullets dominating the inside track as their slick-passing game stretched the Breakers early on.
Ahead 24-23 at the end of the first spell, the Breakers edged fractionally ahead in an even second quarter to hold a 49-47 halftime lead, Bullets guard Stephen Holt nailing a three-pointer right on the buzzer to keep the margin close.
Abercrombie, who managed just seven points in Sunday's loss, impressed from long range in the first half, sinking two three pointers in the first half then opening the third quarter with back-to-back threes.
The Breakers managed to extend their lead to 73-69 at the three-quarter mark, Brisbane hit hard when Jervis fouled out with just under eight minutes of the game remaining.
He still managed 20 points, with back-up from Kickert (17) and Perrin Buford, who added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
For the Breakers, Abercrombie led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds, with Newbill also playing a key hand in amassing 20 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
-AAP
