ID :
160609
Sun, 02/13/2011 - 12:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/160609
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Breakers, Perth set for telling NBL clash
Runaway NBL leaders New Zealand and Perth - the team they want to succeed as champions - are set to test their title credentials against each other this week.
New Zealand (16-3) continued their seemingly unstoppable run to the minor premiership with a 101-91 home win over Melbourne (7-13).
It was the Breakers' sixth straight win and their 11th in their last 12 games.
Perth (13-9) missed a chance to improve their chances of finishing second, splitting their NSW road games.
They enjoyed a 98-84 win over improving Sydney (4-16), but crashed 105-73 to Wollongong (10-11) the following night.
Two other challengers for second spot met on Sunday, with Townsville (12-8) scoring a 81-74 home win over Cairns (11-8).
Perth travel to New Zealand for a match on Thursday which could reveal a lot about both teams' title aspirations and give the Breakers a chance for some payback.
The Wildcats were responsible for inflicting the biggest defeat on the Breakers this season, a 114-74 thrashing at Challenge Stadium in mid-November.
While New Zealand shot over 50 per cent from the field and three-point range against Melbourne, the Wildcats' long range shooting slump continued through their trip to NSW, making under 30 per cent of their long distance attempts in both games.
The in-form New Zealand duo of guard Kirk Penney and forward Gary Wilkinson both starred against Melbourne.
Penney made five of seven three-point attempts and is shooting at an impressive 44 per cent clip from outside the arc over the season.
Wilkinson made a double-digit scoring contribution for the 12th straight game.
One positive for Perth was the return from an eight-week injury layoff of forward Jesse Wagstaff.
He notched 12 points in 18 minutes against Sydney and 10 in 16 against Wollongong.
Oscar Forman top scored with 21 for the Hawks, who revived their playoff aspirations after a nine-match losing streak.
Gold Coast (10-11) stayed in finals contention and delivered a blow to the playoff hopes of Adelaide (8-12) with a spanking 95-79 home win over the 36ers.
Import Ira Clark scored 24 for the Blaze, who announced they had signed big man Ater Majok for the rest of the season as cover for star forward Mark Worthington, who will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing wrist surgery.
Majok, who recently completed a short stint with Perth, failed to score in nine minutes of court time in his Blaze debut.
New Zealand (16-3) continued their seemingly unstoppable run to the minor premiership with a 101-91 home win over Melbourne (7-13).
It was the Breakers' sixth straight win and their 11th in their last 12 games.
Perth (13-9) missed a chance to improve their chances of finishing second, splitting their NSW road games.
They enjoyed a 98-84 win over improving Sydney (4-16), but crashed 105-73 to Wollongong (10-11) the following night.
Two other challengers for second spot met on Sunday, with Townsville (12-8) scoring a 81-74 home win over Cairns (11-8).
Perth travel to New Zealand for a match on Thursday which could reveal a lot about both teams' title aspirations and give the Breakers a chance for some payback.
The Wildcats were responsible for inflicting the biggest defeat on the Breakers this season, a 114-74 thrashing at Challenge Stadium in mid-November.
While New Zealand shot over 50 per cent from the field and three-point range against Melbourne, the Wildcats' long range shooting slump continued through their trip to NSW, making under 30 per cent of their long distance attempts in both games.
The in-form New Zealand duo of guard Kirk Penney and forward Gary Wilkinson both starred against Melbourne.
Penney made five of seven three-point attempts and is shooting at an impressive 44 per cent clip from outside the arc over the season.
Wilkinson made a double-digit scoring contribution for the 12th straight game.
One positive for Perth was the return from an eight-week injury layoff of forward Jesse Wagstaff.
He notched 12 points in 18 minutes against Sydney and 10 in 16 against Wollongong.
Oscar Forman top scored with 21 for the Hawks, who revived their playoff aspirations after a nine-match losing streak.
Gold Coast (10-11) stayed in finals contention and delivered a blow to the playoff hopes of Adelaide (8-12) with a spanking 95-79 home win over the 36ers.
Import Ira Clark scored 24 for the Blaze, who announced they had signed big man Ater Majok for the rest of the season as cover for star forward Mark Worthington, who will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing wrist surgery.
Majok, who recently completed a short stint with Perth, failed to score in nine minutes of court time in his Blaze debut.
