Sixers hold out Breakers in Christchurch

The Adelaide 36ers did their best to throw it away in the last minute but the New Zealand Breakers couldn’t take advantage with the Sixers holding on for the 83-79 Thursday win in Christchurch.

The Breakers took a two-point lead into the fourth term on Thursday at Wolfbrook Arena but could manage just two free throws, missing 14 consecutive field-goal attempts in the first eight minutes of play.

Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton, who started slowly, hit a step-back triple to put the 36ers ahead by nine and seemingly ice the contest.

In a game that had fluctuated all night, the Breakers recovered with five quick points, forcing turnovers with their full-court press to get within two in the final 90 seconds.

Both teams played the foul game and it was Zylan Cheatham's pair of makes that effectively sealed the deal with 14 seconds to play, after Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright had missed his second effort from the stripe.

Despite shooting 7/18 for the game, Cotton still hit four triples and finished with 23 points and six assists for Adelaide with Cheatham again influential with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

He also spent plenty of time guarding Sam Mennenga and had a big say in holding the Breakers big man to just seven points on 2/12 shooting.

Flynn Cameron also had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Sixers and Isaac White 12 points and four assists while being a team-high +16 in his 25 minutes.

Izaiah Brockington did his best guarding Cotton and up the other end had 25 points with 9/15 shooting from the field and 3/6 from downtown.

Jackson-Cartwright still finished with 21 points and 10 assists with Next Star Karim Lopez adding 11 points and six rebounds.

The hosts were outrebounded 17-7 in the first quarter and hit just 2/10 from long range as the 36ers built a 10-point lead without an offensive contribution from star guard Cotton.

He missed a pair of free throws and was 0/4 from the field, with lesser-lights Flynn Cameron and Nick Rakocevic ticking over the scoreboard instead.

A day after last-placed Illawarra upset top-ranked Melbourne United, another boilover loomed when the hosts rallied to lead behind a 33-point second quarter.

Jackson-Cartwright found his groove, Karim Lopez got to the rim, and Izaiah Brockington fired up.

That's when the wheels fell off, the Breakers scoreless in the first six minutes of the final quarter.

Missed lay-ups and poor rebounding stalled the hosts' momentum as the 36ers built a seven-point lead.

Cotton needed no invitation, turning the knife with a step-back triple for a nine-point lead entering the final three minutes, before the Breakers finally woke up to ensure a nervy finish.

Victory improved the 36ers to 7-2, while the Breakers, fresh off a big win on the road against the Hawks, fell to 3-8.

The Breakers now begin a run of four straight road games against the Sydney Kings on Sunday while the 36ers return home for Cotton's first time playing against the Perth Wildcats also on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 79 (Brockington 25, Jackson-Cartwright 21, Lopez 11)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 83 (Cotton 23, Cameron 13, Cheatham 13)

BOX SCORE