NZ Breakers have held off a late charge from Tasmania JackJumpers to seal a 94-88 win in their Australian NBL clash in Auckland on Friday.
Playing at their original headquarters at Eventfinda Stadium for the first time since 2018, the Breakers - lead by outstanding point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright – exploded in the third quarter to take a 21-point lead into the final stanza.
But the JackJumpers - guided by the hot-hand of Milton Doyle (19 points) - ensured there'd be no cruising to the finish line for the hosts, helping his side rally to within four points before the Breakers closed out a victory.
The result moved the Breakers into seventh place in the standings and keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs.
The import trio were the spearhead for the Breakers. Jackson-Cartwright scored a game-high 25 points on 9/15 shooting and six three-pointers, adding four assists and two steals.
Zylan Cheatham's aggression was rewarded with 20 points - 10 of those coming from the free-throw line – while Anthony Lamb contributed a well-rounded line of 18 points (6/10), four rebounds, and five assists to go with a pair of steals and a block.
"We showed real maturity and real growth in the way we handled the adversity in the third quarter," Breakers coach Mody Maor said after the game.
"We played the right way... effort plays, stayed consistent.
"Very proud."
The Breakers will try to carry their momentum into their next game against Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Sunday.
NZ Breakers 94 (Jackson-Cartwright 25, Cheatham 20, Lamb 18) Tasmania JackJumpers 86 (McVeigh 22, Doyle 19)
