NBL Round 29 (Regular Season): NZL Breakers edge Melbourne Utd by two points

The Regular Season in NBL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 6 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 29 in the NBL took place in Auckland. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of 4th placed United (18-11) to seventh ranked Breakers (11-17) 97-95 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of United. NZL Breakers made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Mexican swingman Karim Lopez (202-2007) who scored 32 points and 8 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) chipped in 23 points. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. NZL Breakers maintains seventh place with 11-17 record. Melbourne Utd at the other side keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Perth. NZL Breakers are looking forward to face higher ranked Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne Utd will have a break next round.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Phoenix (20-9) against fifth ranked Wildcats (18-11) on Wednesday night. Visiting Phoenix was defeated by Wildcats in a tough game in Perth 93-101. American Dylan Windler (201-1996, college: Belmont) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. Elijah Pepper contributed with 22 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Wildcats' coach John Rillie allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) answered with 28 points and 8 rebounds for SE Melbourne. Perth moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Melbourne Utd. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the second position with nine games lost. Perth will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against the league's leader Adelaide (#1) in Findon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Adelaide 36ers delivered the twenty first victory on Wednesday night. This time they crushed 10th ranked Bullets (6-23) 107-74 in Brisbane. Bryce Cotton stepped up and scored 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Jacob Holt responded with 24 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Adelaide maintains first place with 21-8 record. Brisbane lost ninth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 23 lost games. Adelaide will meet at home league's second-placed SE Melbourne in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Brisbane will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 29 Illawarra H. was defeated by Sydney in a road game 122-104. Cairns beat Tasmania JJ at home 96-93.
The best stats of 29th round was 40 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds by Jack McVeigh of Cairns.



Brisbane - Adelaide 74-107

Leader Adelaide 36ers delivered the twenty first victory on Wednesday night. This time they crushed 10th ranked Bullets (6-23) 107-74 in Brisbane. Adelaide shot 68.4 percent from the field and made 18-of-19 free shots (94.7 percent) during the game. Adelaide had a 28-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Adelaide made 8 blocks. American guard Bryce Cotton (182-1992, college: Providence, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up and scored 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners and the former international center Isaac Humphries (216-1998, college: Kentucky) chipped in 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). Four Adelaide 36ers players scored in double figures. Canadian forward Jacob Holt (206-2003, college: Sacramento St.) responded with 24 points and 5 rebounds and the former international point guard Mitch Norton (184-1993) scored 11 points, 5 rebounds and 6 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. Adelaide maintains first place with 21-8 record. Brisbane lost ninth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 23 lost games. Adelaide will meet at home league's second-placed SE Melbourne in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Brisbane will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Adelaide: C.Bryce 22+5reb+8ast, J.John 19+1reb+2ast, H.Isaac 16+5reb+3ast, C.Flynn 16+1reb+3ast, V.Dejan 12+3reb+3ast, R.Nick 7+4reb+1ast
Brisbane: J.Holt 24+5reb+1ast, M.Norton 11+5reb+6ast, J.Purchase 9, D.Tristan 9+2reb, T.Taylor 8+10reb+2ast, H.Maldonado 7+1reb+8ast

Perth - SE Melbourne 101-93

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Phoenix (20-9) against fifth ranked Wildcats (18-11) on Wednesday night. Visiting Phoenix was defeated by Wildcats in a tough game in Perth 93-101. Perth dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Phoenix's 30 and made 16-of-21 charity shots (76.2 percent) during the game. Perth players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. American Dylan Windler (201-1996, college: Belmont) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. The former international guard Elijah Pepper (193-2001, college: UC Davis) contributed with 22 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Wildcats' coach John Rillie allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) answered with 28 points and 8 rebounds and American power forward John Brown III (203-1992, college: High Point) added 20 points and 14 rebounds in the effort for SE Melbourne. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Perth moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Melbourne Utd. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the second position with nine games lost. Perth will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against the league's leader Adelaide (#1) in Findon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Perth: W.Dylan 23+11reb, P.Elijah 22+6reb+1ast, L.Jo 18+6reb+1ast, H.Ben 14+5reb+9ast, D.Kristian 10+8reb+5ast, W.Jesse 7+3reb
SE Melbourne: N.Sobey 28+8reb+3ast, J.Brown III 20+14reb+2ast, W.Iwundu 11+5reb+4ast, O.Foxwell 10+1reb+1ast, I.Clark 10+2reb+2ast, A.Glover 6+2reb+2ast

Sydney - Illawarra H. 122-104

There was no surprise in Sydney where 8th ranked Hawks (10-18) were defeated by third ranked Kings (19-9) 122-104 on Thursday. Sydney made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 53.6 percentage. Sydney looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) stepped up and scored 22 points and 9 assists (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners and Brazilian-American center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's) chipped in 23 points and 6 rebounds. American center Javale McGee (213-1988, college: Nevada) responded with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import guard Tyler Harvey (194-1993, college: EWU) scored 25 points. Five Sydney and four Illawarra H. players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kings have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Sydney maintains third place with 19-9 record having just three points less than leader Adelaide. Loser Hawks keeps the eighth position with 18 games lost. Sydney will meet Cairns (#9) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Illawarra H. will play against Perth and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Sydney: S.Tim 23+6reb+1ast, D.Kendric 22+3reb+9ast, M.Makuach 21+6reb, C.Xavier 15+6reb+1ast, C.Torrey 14+5reb+5ast, N.Kouat 12+2reb+1ast
Illawarra H.: T.Harvey 25+1ast, J.McGee 17+9reb+4ast, D.Grida 17+3reb, W.Hickey 15+5reb+5ast, Q.Peterson 11+1ast, S.Froling 7+7reb+5ast

NZL Breakers - Melbourne Utd 97-95

The most exciting game of round 29 in the NBL took place in Auckland. This derby game ended with only two-point defeat on the road of 4th placed United (18-11) to seventh ranked Breakers (11-17) 97-95 on Friday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of United. NZL Breakers made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Mexican swingman Karim Lopez (202-2007) who scored 32 points and 8 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) chipped in 23 points. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) and American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists respectively for the guests. Four NZL Breakers and five Melbourne Utd players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. NZL Breakers maintains seventh place with 11-17 record. Melbourne Utd at the other side keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Perth. NZL Breakers are looking forward to face higher ranked Tasmania JJ (#6) in Hobart in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Melbourne Utd will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: L.Karim 32+8reb+2ast, J.Parker 23+1reb+3ast, B.Izaiah 16+6reb+3ast, L.Robert 10+5reb+3ast, T.Reuben 8+2reb, D.Carlin 4+3reb+2ast
Melbourne Utd: J.Edwards 23+14reb+1ast, C.Goulding 16+2reb+2ast, F.Delany 13+3reb+4ast, S.Ili 11+2reb+3ast, M.Doyle 10+6reb+9ast, T.Walker 8+4ast

Cairns - Tasmania JJ 96-93

There was a small surprise in Cairns where ninth ranked Taipans (8-20) edged 6th ranked JackJumpers (12-17) 96-93 on Friday. Cairns made 27-of-31 free shots (87.1 percent) during the game. The former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) stepped up and scored 40 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds (was perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners and swingman Kody Stattmann (202-2000, college: Virginia) chipped in 18 points. South Sudanese forward Majok Deng (205-1993, college: ULM) responded with 28 points and 8 rebounds and international forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 15 rebounds. Five Tasmania JJ players scored in double figures. JackJumpers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Cairns maintains ninth place with 8-20 record. Tasmania JJ lost fourth consecutive game. Defending champion keeps the sixth position with 17 games lost. Cairns will meet at home higher ranked Sydney (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tasmania JJ will play against NZL Breakers and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cairns: M.Jack 40+8reb+2ast, K.Stattmann 18+4reb+1ast, K.Mojave 16+5reb+2ast, G.Kyrin 7+9reb+1ast, K.Adnam 7+2reb+4ast, L.Marcus 4+10reb
Tasmania JJ: M.Deng 28+8reb+1ast, J.Bannan 18+15reb+3ast, D.Johnson 17+4reb+2ast, T.Campbell 14+3reb+6ast, N.Marshall 11+7reb+1ast, N.Stoddart 3