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Daniel Pockett / Getty Images
Finn Delany was the best scorer for the Breakers in their NBL Cup loss to the Phoenix on Sunday, contributing 24 points, along with six rebounds.
The injury-stricken New Zealand Breakers finished the NBL Cup with their third loss in four games, outscored 103-89 by South East Melbourne Phoenix.
The Phoenix stormed home to end the NBL Cup competition in second place with Sunday’s victory earning $ 100,000 (NZ $ 108,112) in prize money as a runner-up to the Perth Wildcats. It was a different story for the exhausted Breakers, who finished with a 3-5 record, placing seventh out of nine teams in the center of Melbourne for a month.
Without second-leading scorer Corey Webster (out for four weeks with a knee injury), imported star Lamar Patterson (also with a knee injury) and center Rob Loe, who is back in New Zealand, was always difficult for the Breakers.
They’ve added Australian guard William McDowell-White and former Brisbane Bullets guard Jeremy Kendle, fresh off a season with the Adelaide 36ers, to try to fill the gaps.
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Breakers coach Dan Shamir felt his team benefited from life in the NBL center, despite some key injuries and losses in three of the last four games.
“The schedule was tough for us, missing some players and with three games in five days, it obviously showed a bit,” Shamir said.
Daniel Pockett / Getty Images
Tom Abercrombie played 38 minutes for the Breakers against the Phoenix on Sunday, scoring 23 points.
New Zealand’s Finn Delany bounced back from Friday’s career-high 30-point effort with 24 points and six rebounds, and Tom Abercrombie added 23.
Tai Webster contributed 16 points on 6/10 shots with big man Colton Iverson contributing 10 points and eight rebounds.
Phoenix eliminated all four quarters at John Cain Arena to claim a third victory in the space of five days and overtake Brisbane Bullets and Melbourne United.
Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam each scored 21 points and Ben Moore made eight of his nine shots to finish in 17, while Ryan Broekhoff played nine minutes in his second NBL appearance before missing most of the second half with hamstring pain.
Daniel Pockett / Getty Images
Mitch Creek and South East Melbourne Phoenix celebrate their victory over the Breakers to finish second in the NBL Cup.
Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell emphasized that his team’s final position at the NBL Cup table was not their main focus against New Zealand as they also rose to fourth on the NBL competition ladder with a record from 9-7.
The Phoenix looked strong early on despite five turnovers that led to nine points from Breakers as they connected five of their first six three-point attempts.
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa continued his form of recent form when he received two offensive fouls from New Zealander danger Webster and added a pair of 3-pointers in his team’s 29-23 start.
Moore showed off his deft touch around the rim and clever defensive play in the second period as Phoenix’s lead grew to 11 near halftime.
A sloppy finish in the second quarter nearly cost the Phoenix a valuable NBL Cup point, but Reuben Te Rangi made one of two free throws to close out the half with a 53-46 lead.
Phoenix won the third quarter 25-19 to secure a top-three finish in the NBL Cup, then continued work in the final period.
New Zealand’s next NBL game is against Brisbane on Saturday.
TAKE A LOOK:
Southeast Melbourne Phoenix 103 (Kyle Adnam 21, Mitch Creek 21, Ben Moore 17, Yanni Wetzell 15, Cam Gliddon 10) NZ Breakers 89 (Finn Delany 24, Tom Abercrombie 23, Tai Webster 16, Colton Iverson 10) Q1: 29-23, HT: 53-46, 3Q: 78-65.
-AAP with things
