The New Zealand Breakers have gone 1-0 up in their NBL semi-final series against the Tasmania JackJumpers after winning the opening game 88-68 in Auckland.
Dererk Pardon Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Breakers were playing their first Finals game of any kind since losing in two games of the semi finals to Melbourne United in 2018 and attempting to win a first post-season match since Game 2 of the Grand Final series with the Perth Wildcats in 2016.
In front of 5479 fans the Breakers came out on fire to lead 12-2 early and really put the clamps on the JackJumpers who were still finding their feet without point guard Josh Magette and captain Clint Steindl.
While the JackJumpers did make a couple of runs including getting back within eight early in the fourth, the Breakers had all the answers and scored 15 of the next 19 points to secure the eventual 20-point win.
The 16 turnovers might not please coach Mody Maor too much, but it was a strong all-round showing from the Breakers. They shot 54 per cent from the field, hit 9/21 from deep and nailed 21/25 at the foul line.
They did only have four offensive rebounds but also didn't miss a whole lot while defensively they restricted Tasmania to shooting 33 per cent from the floor and 6/23 from downtown. The JackJumpers did well getting to the stripe, though, going 22/29.
Dererk Pardon finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots for New Zealand with Will McDowell-White contributing 13 points, seven assists and six boards.
Barry Brown Jr added 11 points, Rayan Rupert 10 points and five rebounds, Jarrell Brantley eight points, five boards and three assists, and Tom Abercrombie eight points and three rebounds.
Breakers coach Mody Maor was pleased to see his defence come through when it mattered most, but has already shifted focus to Thursday's Game 2 in Hobart.
"Defending and holding them to 68 points is how you win," Maor said.
"We had a little too many turnovers for my liking but other than that, it was solid. The scoresheet means nothing now, we will look at film, analyse what's important and improve what we can improve.
"We'll recover and come back to be ourselves and compete in a gym when last time we were there we lost, badly."
Game two is in Hobart on Thursday.
The first game of the other semi-final series between Sydney and Cairns is on Wednesday.