Americans Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Matt Mooney have paced NZ Breakers to their second straight nailbiting win to begin the Australian NBL marketing campaign, edging previous South East Melbourne 91-89 at Auckland's Spark Arena.
The residence aspect led by eight factors, when ahead Jonah Bolden transformed from the three-point arc with three minutes on the clock, however as they did at Brisbane final week, the Breakers misplaced their poise within the closing moments, threatening to let victory slip away.
Up 4 factors with 9 seconds remaining, they dedicated a five-second violation on an inbounds move, giving their rivals a sniff. Forward Matt Hurt linked on a three-point bomb to shut inside some extent with 5 seconds left, however when Jackson-Cartwright missed the second of two free throws, the Phoenix ran out of time to progress the ball upcourt to full the comeback.
Eight days earlier, the Breakers had seen a 26-point third-quarter lead slip away, earlier than rising with a four-point win over the Bullets. This contest — their first outing at residence below new coach Petteri Koponen — was even nearer.
They started the competition ice chilly, taking pictures 1/11, as they fell 13-3 behind early. A rotation of personnel ignited their scoring contact, however the Phoenix scored the final 5 factors of the quarter to retain a double-point benefit.
A pair of three-pointers from Mojave King introduced the house crew inside 4 factors early within the second interval, earlier than ahead Sam Mennenga levelled the scores at 23-23 with a lefthanded layup in site visitors, lacking the prospect to go forward with the any-one free throw.
At halftime, South East Melbourne had been nonetheless 36-33 up, with ahead Hurt (12 factors) main all scorers. Jackson-Cartwright and King had six factors every for the Breakers, who had shot simply 30% (11/36) from the sector.
The Breakers had their noses in entrance briefly within the third quarter, when Bolden hit from lengthy distance, and had the lead into the ultimate interval, when Mooney additionally linked on a 3. Limited to only a pair of free throws within the first half, the American guard got here alive with 13 factors within the second, together with three from afar.
Jackson-Cartwright's pace within the paint helped enhance the margin to eight, earlier than the dramatic closing seconds unfolded.
The Auckland membership takes a break from its ANBL schedule, as they head to the United States for a three-game sequence towards NBA groups Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Their subsequent competitors outing pits them towards Brisbane Bullets once more on October 17.
NZ Breaker 91 (Jackson-Cartwright 19, Mooney 15, Mennenga 11) South East Melbourne Phoenix 89 (Sobey 24, Hurt 20, Hunter 12)
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