The New Zealand Breakers have powered their way to 98-88 win over the Adelaide 36ers with a final-quarter blitz in their NBL seventh-round match in Auckland.
Although the win went some way towards avenging their first-round 90-71 loss to the 36ers in Adelaide, the Breakers struggled to find their rhythm on Thursday for much of the game.
Ahead 24-23 after the first quarter, 49-48 at halftime and 69-66 at the three-quarter mark, Adelaide's accuracy only faltered under pressure in the final five minutes.
Guard Corey Webster hit a hot run of three-pointers to bring the Breakers home with a spectacular 32-19 last quarter.
It was his third appearance of the season after an unsuccessful NBA trial with New Orleans, and backed up his career-best 35 points last week against Cairns and a game-high 22 the week before against Sydney.
While Webster was away, the Breakers dropped three of their first four games of the new season but they've looked a new team since his return in winning three in a row.
Although Webster triggered the Breakers' final-quarter run, ending the match with 20 points which included five three-pointers, forward Tai Wesley was top-scorer with 26 as well as snaring eight rebounds.
Charles Jackson had his best game to date in the Breakers' singlet, grabbing a double-double with 10 rebounds and 21 points, while Cedric Jackson's influence was apparent in his assists (13) and his shooting (11).
New Adelaide import Jerome Randle had a busy night for the 36ers, the former University of California star providing 10 assists and 12 points to back up Daniel Johnson's outstanding double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.
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