NZ Breakers continued their excellent start to the Australian NBL season with a thumping 99-70 win against Adelaide 36ers on Friday.
The Auckland-based side improved their road record to 4-1, consolidating second place on the ladder behind Sydney Kings and enhancing their reputation as one of the competition's leading contenders against the third-placed 36ers.
After struggling from behind the arc in recent outings, the Breakers caught fire from three-point range, nailing 15 of their 30 attempts from distance, while shooting a red-hot 54 percent from the field overall.
They also put on another suffocating display of ther league-leading defence and have now conceded a miserly average of 67 points in five of their last six games, which have all been wins.
Import Jarell Brantley was the best of the Breakers, with a monster statistical line of 22 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while fellow American Barry Brown Jr stayed hot with 22 points off the bench.
Point guard Izayah Le'afa chipped in 15 points and three steals and Australian Will McDowell-White contributed 10 points and seven assists.
After leading by sight points at the half, the Breakers came out of the break and proceeded to make it rain from the outside to bolt to a 74-50 advantage entering the final quarter, essentially sealing the contest.
"Shooting 50 per cent is a lot," said Breakers head coach Mody Maor. "You don’t aim for 50 per cent and this is more than you expect.
"We were shooting about 27 percent from three. We took a good look at our shooting over the past two weeks and were happy with the shots we had been creating.
"Most of them were catch-and-shoot threes, uncontested and from good shooters so it was just a matter of time until it drops."
The Breakers now return to New Zealand to face Tasmania JackJumpers at Auckland's Spark Arena on Sunday.
NZ Breakers 99 (Brown 22, Brantley 22, Le'afa 15) Adelaide 36ers 70 (Sotto 16, Cleveland 14, Franks 11, Randall 11)
