Harrell expects huge test against Breakers

Adelaide 36ers will go into Saturday’s showdown against New Zealand Breakers in Auckland expecting a tough contest from the opening tip-off.

Both sides are going into the contest coming off confidence-boosting victories, with the 36ers keen to extend their winning streak to three matches.

The winner of this match will sit pretty in the top three, but power forward Montrezl Harrell said his side are taking this game like any other contest.

“This is like any other game, we don’t put any more emphasis on it, because every one of these games are important,” Harrell said this week.

“Every game we go into is a fight, it’s a short season, every game matters, every game is big.

“We are taking it one game at a time and trying to pile on those wins.”

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Head coach Mike Wells said he expects the Breakers to pay more attention on Harrell, who had a career-high 36 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks against Cairns last Friday night.

“I feel we have three really good scorers, we have Trez (Harrell), we have KD (Kendric Davis) and we have DJ (Vasiljevic),” Wells said.

“We have some offensive weapons, and we have a lot more size than other teams.

“That’s the interesting challenge for me and the chess match I have to play when I sub.”

But Wells has an emphasis on his side’s strides at the defensive end, with Adelaide winning their past 10 matches when allowing fewer than 90 points.

 “It’s all about your defence, offence is going to come and go,” Wells said.

“Your defence has got to be there and those comebacks in the second half against Tasmania and against Cairns was (all about) our defence.”

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
Spark Arena, Saturday 5pm ACST
Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports 

OVERALL
Played 78, Adelaide 35, New Zealand 43

LIKELY STARTERS
Breakers: Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Matt Mooney, Karim Lopez, Jonah Bolden, Sam Mennenga.
36ers: Kendric Davis, DJ Vasiljevic, Sunday Dech, Montrezl Harrell, Isaac Humphries.

LAST FIVE MATCHES
Feb 18, 2024 – 36ers 76 def NZ Breakers 70 at AEC
Nov 30, 2023 – NZ Breakers 96 def 36ers 83 at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
Oct 26, 2023 – 36ers 97 def NZ Breakers 85 at Spark Arena, Auckland
Jan 8, 2023 – NZ Breakers 85 def 36ers 83 at AEC
Nov 20, 2022 – NZ Breakers 89 def 36ers 83 at Trusts Arena, Auckland

STATS THAT MATTER
- Adelaide has won each of its last 10 games when allowing fewer than 90 points.
- The 36ers have won five of its last six games.
- Adelaide holds a 5-0 record when Kendric Davis scores over 18 points.
- Montrezl Harrell - first player since Josh Childress in 2014 to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a game.
- Adelaide ranks 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (38.6%).
- The 36ers rank 2nd in the league for points per possession this season (1.15).
- DJ Vasiljevic recorded a career-high 14 rebounds last time against New Zealand.