The New Zealand Breakers have finished their basketball pre-season campaign on a winning note, beating the Sydney Kings 94-84 in Dunedin to spilt the two-game series one win apiece.
Reuben Te Rangi of the Breakers goes to the hoop. 2014. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The victory was achieved without star guard Cedric Jackson, swingman Tom Abercrombie and centre Alex Pledger, with the American import and the two Tall Blacks out injured.
The Auckland-based franchise turned around a five-point halftime deficit and negotiated its way through foul trouble to come away with the confidence boosting win.
Corey Webster rebounded from a quiet opening 20 minutes to top score for the home side with 24 points, and Reuben Te Rangi (14 points) led the fightback with some nice drives to the rim.
Abercrombie and Pledger are both struggling with injury just a week out from their first regular season game against the defending champion Perth Wildcats.
Abercrombie will undergo a hernia operation today and the assistant coach, Paul Henare, says it's expected to take one to two weeks for him to recover.
The Breakers first game is against the Wildcats in Perth on Friday October 10th.
