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Breakers go cold late as 36ers pinch win in Christchurch
Murray Wenzel, AAP • November 6th, 2025 9:56 pm
Breakers | Photo: Photosport
A final-quarter scoring drought has cost New Zealand another NBL upset as Adelaide escaped Christchurch with a 83-79 win.
The Breakers took a two-point lead into the fourth term on Thursday but could manage just two free throws, missing 14 consecutive field-goal attempts in the first eight minutes of play.
Bryce Cotton (23 points, six assists), who started slowly, hit a step-back triple to put the 36ers ahead by nine and seemingly ice the contest.
In a game that had fluctuated all night, the Breakers recovered with five quick points, forcing turnovers with their full-court press to get within two in the final 90 seconds.
Both teams played the foul game and it was Zylan Cheatham's (13 points, eight rebounds) pair of makes that effectively sealed the deal with 14 seconds to play, after Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (21 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, three steals) had missed his second effort from the stripe.
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The hosts were out-rebounded 17-7 in the first quarter and hit just two-of-10 from long range as the 36ers built a 10-point lead without an offensive contribution from star guard Cotton.
He missed a pair of free throws and was 0-4 from the field, with lesser-lights Flynn Cameron and Nick Rakocevic ticking over the scoreboard instead.
A day after last-placed Illawarra upset top-ranked Melbourne United, another boilover loomed when the hosts rallied to lead behind a 33-point second quarter.
Jackson-Cartwright found his groove, Karim Lopez got to the rim, and Izaiah Brockington (25 points) fired up.
That's when the wheels fell off, the Breakers scoreless in the first six minutes of the final quarter.
Missed lay-ups and poor rebounding stalled the hosts' momentum as the 36ers built a seven-point lead.
Cotton needed no invitation, turning the knife with a step-back triple for a nine-point lead entering the final three minutes, before the Breakers finally woke up to ensure a nervy finish.
Victory improved the 36ers to 7-2, while the Breakers, fresh off a big win on the road against the Hawks, fell to 3-8.
