The Breakers have finished strongly to outlast Melbourne United 88-81 in their second-round Australian National Basketball League clash.
Tai Wesley. Photo: Photosport
The win over the defending champions comes as a welcome antidote to last week's opening 86-73 loss to the Brisbane Bullets in Auckland.
Power forward Tai Wesley led the way for the Breakers, with a game-high 25 points, while Tom Abercrombie (16) and Patrick Richard (15) provided valuable support.
Mitch McCarron and Chris Goulding nailed back-to-back three-pointers and David Barlow hit two triples give the home team a 28-19 lead at the first break.
But Melbourne couldn't maintain momentum in the second spell as the Breakers fought back, holding Goulding, Barlow and McCarron scoreless and outscoring the home side 28-14 to take a 47-42 lead into halftime.
Melbourne regained the lead early in the third quarter, Alex Pledger throwing down a powerful dunk in his first game against the team with which he he won four titles.
But the Breakers bench stepped up and the visitors led 71-66 at the three-quarter mark.
Goulding nailed a three with under two minutes to play then Tohi Smith-Milner's free throw made it 85-81, but Richard nailed a three-pointer of his own with less than a minute on the clock to secure the win.
-AAP/RNZ
