10 Feb 2013

Breakers extend winning streak

9:08 am on 10 February 2013

The New Zealand Breakers have recorded a drama-filled 96-94 overtime victory over the Sydney Kings in the Australian National Basketball League.

A Cedric Jackson (24 points) lay-up through the heart of the Kings defence with 4:89 on the clock in overtime proved to be the final piece of action in a pulsating encounter where the lead changed 22 times.

Before that, a James Harvey (16 points) three-pointer had tied the game and looked to send it into a second overtime.

It was a nail-biting end and mirrored the drama of the end of the fourth quarter.

With less than two seconds left on the clock at the end of regulation time, Kings were down by three points.

Corin Henry (22 points) scored his first free-throw, but missed the second, only for Darnell Lazare (25 points) to put in the rebound and send the game into overtime as 7124 people in the Kingdome erupted.

Just over a minute earlier, Jackson had sunk a three-pointer to give the Breakers what appeared an unassailable five-point lead.

Jackson was a constant performer for the defending champions, in tandem with Alex Pledger (18 points).

Given the Breakers took 30 more shots than the Kings, it's perhaps surprising the winning margin was so narrow in the end.