The NZ Breakers have dropped their second game at the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) Blitz on the Gold Coast.
The third quarter proved their downfall at Cararra Stadium on Wednesday night, outscored 34-17 after leading by seven points at halftime in a 98-91 loss to the Adelaide 36ers, their third straight preseason defeat.
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American guard Matt Mooney had an improved showing, finishing with 20 points (8/13 FG, 4/8 3pt) and three boards, after being held to single figures scoring in Sunday's 108-102 loss to the Perth Wildcats.
Fellow import guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright against top-scored for the Breakers, with 21 points (8/15 FG, 3/5 3pt) and eight assists, while NZ-born Mojave King had 18 points (7/10 FG, 3/3 FT) and centre Sam Mennenga 12 points (4/6 FG, 3/3 FT), five boards and three assists.
The Breakers' starting lineup featured three Americans - Jackson-Cartwright, Mooney and Freddy Gillespie - an Australian, Jonah Bolden, and a Mexican, ANBL 'Next Star' Karim Lopez, with Kiwis Mennenga, King and Max Darling coming off the bench.
Petteri Koponen's team fell behind quickly and by as many as 13 points in the first quarter. With hot-shooting from Mooney and King, who had 14 first-half points, the Breakers responded with a 29-16 second quarter.
With DJ Vasiljevic, Isaac Humphries and Kendric Davis starring, the Sixers had 10-1, 8-0 and 7-0 runs in a dominating third period. They stretched out by 12 points early in the fourth and the Breakers could only get as close as seven the rest of the way.
The Breakers finish off the ANBL Blitz against the Sydney Kings on Friday night (tip-off 9.30pm NZT), ahead of their season-opener against the Brisbane Bullets on September 21 at HBF Arena in Perth (tip-off 8pm NZT).
Meanwhile, it was announced earlier on Wednesday that Breakers games will be broadcast by ESPN and TVNZ in New Zealand this season.
With the league unable to reach a new agreement with Sky Sport, Breakers games will be available on ESPN channels (60 and 61 on Sky's pay-TV platform) and on a combination of TVNZ's free online platform, TVNZ+, and channels, TVNZ1, TVNZ2 and Duke.
It was not announced on Wednesday who would produce and commentate the games, but it is believed commentary will be handled from Australia.