The New Zealand Breakers got the defence of their ANBL title under way with an impressive 102-87 defeat of the Gold Coast Blaze late on Friday thanks to a a 34-point final-quarter blitz.
The win was hard-earned, given the margin at the end of each quarter was never greater than two in favour of the visiting side.
That was until the final quarter when the North Shore-based club pulled away to reverse the result between the two sides from the pre-season tournament.
It was a messy game with 54 fouls called against both sides, and the Breakers going to the line on 30 occasions to the Blaze's 33.
Indeed, the Breakers went into the final quarter in a precarious position with no less than six players on three personal fouls but, in the end, only Mika Vukona fouled out of the game and by then the game was in the bag.
While the scoring was shared between Tom Abercrombie (25), Gary Wilkinson (21), Vukona (16), CJ Bruton (11) and Cedric Jackson (11), it was seasoned guard Bruton who struck two consecutive three pointers midway through the final quarter that proved the difference.
Bruton scored eight of his 11 points in the final quarter and showed the benefit of the Breakers' rotation with fresh legs after he was used sparingly in the first 30 minutes after picking up some early fouls.
Gold Coast Blaze 87 (Mark Worthington 28, Will Hudson 18, Adam Gibson 14)
Breakers 102 (Tom Abercrombie 25, Gary Wilkinson 21, Mika Vukona 16, CJ Bruton 11, Cedric Jackson 11).
