Basketball: NZ Breakers end losing run, keep ANBL finals hopes alive with dominant win over South East Melbourne Phoenix

NZ Breakers have snapped a three-game losing streak, and kept their hopes of reaching the ANBL finals intact, courtesy of a 106-75 win over South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The victory sees the Breakers outside finals contention by just two wins, with nine so far this season.

However, with the likes of Cairns Taipans in fifth and Brisbane Bullets in sixth both having played two games more than the Breakers, the Kiwi side's fate is still in their hands as they hunt a top-six finish to reach the playoffs for another season.

A standout shooting display from the Kiwi side, led by import Anthony Lamb (31 points), saw the Breakers land an impressive 71.4 percent of their three-point attempts, as Mody Maor's side rediscovered their winning formula.

Aside from Lamb, Mantas Rubstavicius (15 points), Will McDowell-White (13), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (13) and Zylan Cheatham (10 points) all stood out, as the Breakers closed out a comfortable win.

And while their work inside the paint was impressive, the Phoenix's efforts on defence also played a large part in Saturday's success.

Only Mitchell Creek (27 points) and Gorjok Gak (13) were able to score in double figures for the Phoenix, who could only shoot at 48 percent of field goals, and 33.3 percent of three-pointers. 

After coming out of the blocks to take the first quarter 25-10, the Breakers didn't assert their dominance again until the final period, but never fell behind on the scoreboard.

The two teams split the second quarter 27-all, while the Phoenix took the third 26-25 – only to be blown away 29-12 in the last, as the Breakers cruised home.

Victory sees the Breakers leapfrog the Phoenix on the ladder, into eighth, courtesy of a superior points differential.  

The Breakers can look to capitalise on home advantage once again as early as Friday, when they return to Spark Arena to face third-place Tasmania JackJumpers, as the first of their final seven games of the regular season.

NZ Breakers 106 (Lamb 31, Rubstavicius 15, Jackson-Cartwright 13, McDowell-White 13, Cheatham 10) 
South East Melbourne Phoenix 75 (Creek 27, Gak 13)

NZ Breakers have snapped a three-game losing streak, and kept their hopes of reaching the ANBL finals intact, courtesy of a 106-75 win over South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The victory sees the Breakers outside finals contention by just two wins, with nine so far this season.

However, with the likes of Cairns Taipans in fifth and Brisbane Bullets in sixth both having played two games more than the Breakers, the Kiwi side's fate is still in their hands as they hunt a top-six finish to reach the playoffs for another season.

A standout shooting display from the Kiwi side, led by import Anthony Lamb (31 points), saw the Breakers land an impressive 71.4 percent of their three-point attempts, as Mody Maor's side rediscovered their winning formula.

Aside from Lamb, Mantas Rubstavicius (15 points), Will McDowell-White (13), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (13) and Zylan Cheatham (10 points) all stood out, as the Breakers closed out a comfortable win.

And while their work inside the paint was impressive, the Phoenix's efforts on defence also played a large part in Saturday's success.

Only Mitchell Creek (27 points) and Gorjok Gak (13) were able to score in double figures for the Phoenix, who could only shoot at 48 percent of field goals, and 33.3 percent of three-pointers. 

After coming out of the blocks to take the first quarter 25-10, the Breakers didn't assert their dominance again until the final period, but never fell behind on the scoreboard.

The two teams split the second quarter 27-all, while the Phoenix took the third 26-25 – only to be blown away 29-12 in the last, as the Breakers cruised home.

Victory sees the Breakers leapfrog the Phoenix on the ladder, into eighth, courtesy of a superior points differential.  

The Breakers can look to capitalise on home advantage once again as early as Friday, when they return to Spark Arena to face third-place Tasmania JackJumpers, as the first of their final seven games of the regular season.

NZ Breakers 106 (Lamb 31, Rubstavicius 15, Jackson-Cartwright 13, McDowell-White 13, Cheatham 10) 
South East Melbourne Phoenix 75 (Creek 27, Gak 13)

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