Breakers set new records at 36ers' expense

The opposition set new records with margins throughout the game and at the buzzer, Isaac Humphries went down injured and despite a spark for the Adelaide 36ers from Jack McVeigh, the New Zealand Breakers won big at the NBL Cup on Saturday.

Despite losing last up to Melbourne United, Adelaide actually finished that game with plenty of momentum having outscored their opposition 63 points to 46 from the moment they found themselves down 36-10 early in the second period.

That saw the 36ers still claim three points in the NBL Cup for winning the second, third and fourth quarters so they deserved to be feeling confident heading into a third meeting already this season with the travelling Breakers.

Adelaide defeated New Zealand twice earlier in the season at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and then coming into Saturday's game at Melbourne's John Cain Arena, the Breakers had lost their last four by double-digits and were minus Rob Loe and Lamar Patterson.

So all the signs were pointing to a positive afternoon for the 36ers, but the Breakers had other ideas.

They shot out of the blocks scoring the opening 14 points of the game, held Adelaide to six first-quarter points and the tone was set.

Early in the second quarter it was a similar scoreline to what Adelaide faced against Melbourne with the Breakers up 37-8. There would be no response this time from the 36ers despite 16 first half points from Jack McVeigh including four triples.

New Zealand extended its lead the rest of the way to claim all seven points on offer in the NBL Cup and to score the emphatic 106-62 victory.

Just to rub extra salt into the significant wound for the 36ers, big man Isaac Humphries left the game early with a foot injury and did not return.

McVeigh was a shining light for the 36ers with 20 points and five rebounds on 7/11 shooting including the 4/4 from long range.

Daniel Johnson battled away for 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists as well and went 7/8 from the foul line.

Tony Crocker hit two late threes for six points with Sunday Dech finishing with six points and three rebounds, Brendan Teys six points, Jeremy Kendle four points and two steals, Josh Giddey two points and four rebounds, and Daniel Dillion a point and a rebound.

Adelaide coach Conner Henry wasn’t making excuses afterwards, but can see some reasons for it.

"Four games in seven days, not being able to train consistently with our core group because of injuries, not being able to train with the other guys who have specific roles and we're not in a good spot.

"We discussed just this scenario about making sure we are ready to go and battling through fatigue, and as you saw in that first quarter it got way out of hand. 

"We weren’t able to stop it and then basically the game's over and we basically trade pretty much from there on out even though they win every quarter."

The start was obviously far from ideal with New Zealand scoring the first 14 points with Adelaide not getting on the board until Josh Giddey found Daniel Johnson down low four and-a-half minutes into the contest.

Sunday Dech hit a three soon after but Adelaide had just six points for the quarter on 2/14 shooting while the Breakers were unstoppable racking up 32 points.

While stopping New Zealand was still a problem, at least the 36ers found a way to put up some points in the second term. In fact they scored 24 of them with 16 of them coming from Jack McVeigh including four from downtown.

But the Sixers still trailed by 30 at the half and it was Johnson who tried to lift the 36ers in the third quarter with 11 points from his own hand, but the Breakers still extended their lead to 31 by three quarter-time.

Tony Crocker hit a couple of threes in the fourth quarter but it couldn’t stop the rot and New Zealand blew the lead out further to win by 44. 

The 36ers now have some time to regroup and get ready to face the Illawarra Hawks on Thursday as the NBL Cup continues.

2020/21 Hungry Jack's NBL Round 7
NBL Cup Week 2

ADELAIDE 36ERS 62 (McVeigh 20, Johnson 17, Crocker 6, Teys 6)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 106 (T Webster 29, C Webster 29, Delany 9)

Points Awarded – New Zealand Breakers 7, Adelaide 36ers 0

Box Score