NBL Round 27 (Regular Season): Adelaide beat NZL Breakers by two after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Seventh-ranked Breakers (10-17) used its home court advantage to challenge first ranked Adelaide 36ers (20-6) in Auckland on Friday. The visitors from Findon managed to secure only two-point victory 112-110. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) who led his team to a victory with 33 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 9 assists. His fellow American import guard John Jenkins (193-1991, college: Vanderbilt, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 24 points for the winners. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds for NZL Breakers. Adelaide maintains first place with 20-6 record. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the seventh position with 17 games lost. Adelaide are looking forward to face Sydney (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. NZL Breakers will have a break next round.
The game between fifth ranked Wildcats (16-10) and 9th ranked Taipans (7-20) in Perth ended with biggest points difference. Wildcats outscored guests from Cairns 106-69. Worth to mention a quality performance of the former international guard Elijah Pepper (193-2001, college: UC Davis) who helped to win the game recording 25 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Kristian Doolittle helped adding 19 points. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) with 34 points (!!!). The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Wildcats have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Perth maintains fifth place with 16-10 record. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 20 games lost. Perth will play against higher ranked Melbourne Utd (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Cairns will play against the league's second-placed SE Melbourne (#2) and hope to get back on the winning track.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 27: bottom-ranked Brisbane was smashed by Melbourne Utd on the road 98-66. SE Melbourne won against NZL Breakers on its own court 123-116. Tasmania JJ unfortunately lost to Sydney in a road game 94-105.



Melbourne Utd - Brisbane 98-66

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked United (17-10) crushed bottom-ranked Bullets (6-21) in Melbourne 98-66. Melbourne Utd outrebounded Brisbane 45-31 including 32 on the defensive glass. Melbourne Utd players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Tyson Walker (185-2000, college: Michigan St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points and 5 assists. New Zealand-Irish Finn Delany (200-1995, college: SW Baptist) helped adding 15 points and 7 rebounds. Four United players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Canadian forward Jacob Holt (206-2003, college: Sacramento St.) with 23 points and 8 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) and American guard Hunter Maldonado (201-1999, college: Wyoming, agency: Octagon Europe) scored 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Melbourne Utd maintains fourth place with 17-10 record. Brisbane lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 21 games lost. Melbourne Utd will play against Perth (#5) on the road in the next round. Brisbane will play against Illawarra H. (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: W.Tyson 17+2reb+5ast, D.Finn 15+7reb+1ast, D.Milton 14+4reb+4ast, G.Chris 13+1reb+3ast, E.Jesse 9+6reb, D.Dash 9+3reb
Brisbane: J.Holt 23+8reb+1ast, H.Maldonado 11+5reb+4ast, B.Jensen 6+3reb, T.Taylor 5+3reb+4ast, M.Norton 5+1reb+2ast, A.Ducas 4+1ast

SE Melbourne - NZL Breakers 123-116

Very expected game when 7th ranked Breakers (10-17) lost to second ranked Phoenix (19-8) in Melbourne 116-123. SE Melbourne made 17-of-19 charity shots (89.5 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was a great evening for American forward Wes Iwundu (198-1994, college: Kansas St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points. His fellow American import swingman Ian Clark (190-1991, college: Belmont) helped adding 24 points. Phoenix's coach Josh King allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists and New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) scored 28 points and 5 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Phoenix have a solid series of three victories in a row. SE Melbourne maintains second place with 19-8 record behind leader Adelaide. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the seventh position with 17 games lost. SE Melbourne will play against Cairns (#9) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. NZL Breakers will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: C.Ian 24+3reb+1ast, I.Wes 23+3reb+3ast, S.Nathan 19+1reb+7ast, H.Jordan 17+4reb+1ast, F.Owen 11+1reb+4ast, B.John 10+9reb+3ast
NZL Breakers: S.Mennenga 28+5reb+1ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 26+6reb+9ast, I.Brockington 15+4reb+1ast, R.Te Rangi 14+2reb+1ast, K.Lopez 11+8reb+2ast, T.Webster 9+1reb+1ast

Sydney - Tasmania JJ 105-94

Rather predictable result when fourth ranked Kings (17-9) won against 6th ranked JackJumpers (12-15) in Sydney 105-94. Sydney players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) who led his team to a victory scoring 40 points (!!!) and 8 assists. Brazilian-American center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's) helped adding 16 points and 8 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was international forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 15 rebounds and American guard David Johnson (193-2001, college: Louisville) scored 23 points and 7 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. JackJumpers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Kings have a solid series of four victories in a row. Sydney moved-up to third place. Defending champion Tasmania JJ keeps the sixth position with 15 games lost. Sydney will play against league's leader Adelaide in Findon in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Tasmania JJ will play at home against Illawarra H. (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sydney: D.Kendric 40+2reb+8ast, S.Tim 16+8reb+1ast, N.Kouat 14+4reb+3ast, C.Torrey 12+4reb+1ast, G.Jaylin 8+5reb+2ast, R.Tyler 6+4reb+3ast
Tasmania JJ: D.Johnson 23+7reb+1ast, J.Bannan 18+15reb+2ast, N.Marshall 16+4reb+1ast, B.Hamilton 15+3reb+3ast, B.Ayre 10+2reb+4ast, T.Campbell 9+2reb+6ast

Perth - Cairns 106-69

The game between fifth ranked Wildcats (16-10) and 9th ranked Taipans (7-20) in Perth ended with biggest points difference. Wildcats outscored guests from Cairns 106-69. Perth shot 60.6 percent from the field. Perth outrebounded Cairns 36-24 including a 29-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Perth shot the lights out from three nailing 15 long-distance shots on high 55.6 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Cairns' players. Worth to mention a quality performance of the former international guard Elijah Pepper (193-2001, college: UC Davis) who helped to win the game recording 25 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) helped adding 19 points. Five Wildcats players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) with 34 points (!!!) and American Andrew Andrews (188-1993, college: Washington) scored 8 points and 8 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Wildcats have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Perth maintains fifth place with 16-10 record. Cairns lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 20 games lost. Perth will play against higher ranked Melbourne Utd (#4) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Cairns will play against the league's second-placed SE Melbourne (#2) and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Perth: P.Elijah 25+3reb+3ast, D.Kristian 19+4reb+2ast, W.Dylan 15+3reb+5ast, L.Jo 12+6reb+2ast, H.Ben 10+2reb+7ast, O.David 9+4reb+4ast
Cairns: J.McVeigh 34+4reb, B.Lachlan 9+2reb, S.Kody 8+3reb+2ast, A.Andrews 8+1reb+8ast, A.Schofield 3+4reb+1ast, M.Lee 3+3reb+1ast

NZL Breakers - Adelaide 110-112

Seventh-ranked Breakers (10-17) used its home court advantage to challenge first ranked Adelaide 36ers (20-6) in Auckland on Friday. The visitors from Findon managed to secure only two-point victory 112-110. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) who led his team to a victory with 33 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 9 assists. His fellow American import guard John Jenkins (193-1991, college: Vanderbilt, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 24 points for the winners. New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and Mexican swingman Karim Lopez (202-2007) added 21 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for NZL Breakers. Four Adelaide and five NZL Breakers players scored in double figures. Adelaide maintains first place with 20-6 record. NZL Breakers at the other side keep the seventh position with 17 games lost. Adelaide are looking forward to face Sydney (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. NZL Breakers will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: C.Bryce 33+5reb+9ast, J.John 24+3reb+2ast, C.Flynn 17+4reb+2ast, C.Zylan 12+11reb+3ast, V.Dejan 10+2reb, H.Isaac 8+5reb+1ast
NZL Breakers: K.Lopez 21+11reb+2ast, I.Brockington 21+4reb+3ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 21+2reb+10ast, S.Mennenga 20+12reb+2ast, M.Darling 12+2reb, R.Te Rangi 11+2reb+1ast