NZL – Breakers fall minus CJ, Jones
AUCKLAND (NBL) - The New Zealand Breakers are one of the NBL’s top sides but not when they’re missing key players and that was the case on Thursday in a home game against Adelaide. Australia national team point guard CJ Bruton withdrew at the last minute because of a back problem and Phill Jones served a one-game suspension and the Breakers ...
AUCKLAND (NBL) - The New Zealand Breakers are one of the NBL’s top sides but not when they’re missing key players and that was the case on Thursday in a home game against Adelaide.
Australia national team point guard CJ Bruton withdrew at the last minute because of a back problem and Phill Jones served a one-game suspension and the Breakers went on to fall 96-86 to Adelaide.
Bruton was set to play but felt pain in warm-ups and sat out the contest.
The Breakers’ cause was also undermined by a one-game suspension that had been meted out to Phill Jones, their former New Zealand international.
Jones had to sit out the game as punishment for striking Shawn Redhage, another Australia international, in an NBL game against Perth.
The defeat to Adelaide has left the New Zealanders with seven wins and three defeats.
Andrej Lemanis, the Breakers coach, said: “Everyone goes through times of the season when you get presented with these challenges. I think the group will step up and make the adjustments.”
New Zealand national team shooting guard Kirk Penney had 24 points and ex-international Tony Ronaldson 23 in defeat.
FIBA