The Breakers have won their third consecutive game in the Australian National Basketball League with a dominant 88-62 at the Illawarra Hawks.
Will McDowell-White Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Breakers were dominant in defence and managed to open up a 21 point lead at half time.
At the other end of the court they dominated rebounding with 10 second chance points and 12 points off turnovers.
The Hawks were always going to make a run in the second half on their home floor but they couldn't get closer than 11 points with the visitors answering every challenge to go on another 12-0 run late to end up winning by 26.
It's the first time the Breakers have won three straight games since ending the 2019/20 season winning four in-a-row while the first time they've won two straight in Australia since April 2021.
They finished the night with 53 rebounds to 36 including 17 offensively to 11 while scoring 15 second chance points and 21 points off Illawarra's 14 turnovers.
It was a tremendous team performance from the Breakers too with Will McDowell-White top-scoring with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Cam Gliddon hit four triples for 12 points while Rayan Rupert finished with 11 points and four rebounds, Jarrell Brantley 10 points and three boards, Tom Vodanovich 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Rob Loe 10 points, eight boards and three steals.
Breakers coach Mody Maor was especially delighted with the defensive mindset of his group.
"(What I liked most) was the defensive effort and how hard we were on the defensive side," Maor said.
"This has to be our foundation and where this team starts, and we held Illawarra to 60 points so that's a good place to be.
"Our guys have bought into us being a defensive first team and we have a phenomenal group of players who really care about winning, and are willing to put their hearts on the line and compete in every moment in the game. This is the foundation for everything we are doing."
The Breakers now have a short turnaround before hosting the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday at Auckland's Trusts Arena.