A seven-point final quarter has seen the NZ Breakers slump to their first road loss of the season, 92-78 to the top-of-the-table Perth Wildcats.
Forward Tai Wesley led the Breakers' scoring effort with 22 points, along with six assists, and guard Corey Webster compiled 19 points, 14 of them in the second half, after attempting only four shots in the first.
The visitors competed from most of the contest and threatened to build decisive leads in the second and third quarters. They trailed at every break, but after half-time, the Breakers ran out to a 69-61 advantage.
American Bryce Cotton converted a floating jump shot on the buzzer to give the Wildcats a one-point lead into the final period, which quickly became one-way traffic. From 76-76 with seven minutes remaining, the Auckland side conceded 16 unanswered points and went scoreless for almost five minutes, as Perth ran riot.
Cotton led all scorers with 23 points, while Clint Steindl was a perfect 5-for-5 from the arc among his 17 points.
The Breakers enjoyed a sizeable advantage on the boards, where American Shawn Long achieved a double-double of 10 points/12 rebounds, six of them at the offensive end.
But they were hammered by the officials, who awarded Perth 21 free throws to the visiting team's three.
The result sees the Breakers fall to two wins and three losses for the season - they return home to face Cairns Taipans at Spark Arena on Friday.
Newshub.
