Both teams battled defensively, though a sixth-placed Breakers – notwithstanding blank US import Armani Moore to a finger damage – were too clever and too accurate on offence.
In their many unchanging compare of a season, a Kiwis led each quarter, fronted by a twin strike force of Corey Webster – who sunk a game-high 25 points – and Patrick Richard (21).
For a Taipans, indicate ensure Melo Trimble was tireless, top-scoring with 23, though perceived small support with usually former Breakers ensure DJ Newbill (11) and brazen Kuany Kuany (10) reaching double figures.
Cairns now haven’t purebred a win given their first-round 88-70 feat over a Brisbane Bullets.
Mitchell Young of a Taipans is challenged by Majok Majok of a Breakers on Friday night. Picture: AAPSource:AAP
The Breakers, who faded badly in final week’s 92-78 detriment to Perth, started with a hiss and a roar.
Back-to-back 3 pointers from Webster, and another from Richard, non-stop adult a 15-4 lead after 5 minutes.
Shawn Long combined another trey, a Breakers stretching to a 30-18 lead before Trimble strike behind with a 3 right on on a buzzer to cut a home team’s lead to 30-21 during a initial break.
Dexter Kernich-Drew continued a Taipans’ resurgence during a restart, removal another 3 to set a visitors on a run that reduced a Breakers’ advantage to only one hardly 3 mins into a second quarter.
Shea Ili of a Breakers is challenged by Melo Trimble of a Taipans on Friday night.Source:AAP
But while a Breakers offering copiousness of movement on offence, Cairns relied heavily on Melo Trimble and former Breakers swingman DJ Newbill, and a Kiwis capitalised to take a 57-45 lead into halftime.
The New Zealanders dominated a third quarter, outscoring a Taipans 25-12 to lead 82-57 during a final break, and nonetheless Cairns edged a final spell 24-22, a final outcome was never in doubt.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 104 (C Webster 24 P Richard 23 S Long 12) CAIRNS TAIPANS 81 (R Trimble 22 D Newbill 13 R Loe 13) during Spark Arena
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