The New Zealand Breakers have shaken off a stern first-half challenge and a determined Josh Giddey before overwhelming the Adelaide 36ers 93-77 in Launceston.
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Teenage 36ers wizard Giddey notched the first triple-double of his NBL career and the first for his side since former import Julius Hodge in 2008.
But it turned out to be the Breakers' night at The Silverdome on Monday.
Finn Delany (23 points, three treys) was a constant inside-outside threat and the man chiefly responsible for NZ's commanding 46-34 second half.
Captain Tom Abercrombie wound back the clock with 19 points in his 354th game, equalling Mika Vukona's club record.
"We came with the right mentality and speed and we shared the ball collectively," Breakers coach Dan Shamir said.
"Twenty-one assists is the way we should play and it should happen more often."
Sixers skipper Daniel Johnson scored 20 points while Giddey overcame a scare when he slipped on a decal early in the third quarter to post 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
NZ opened up a 16-6 lead early before Adelaide, piloted by twin towers Johnson and Isaac Humphries, closed the gap to 25-19 at quarter-time.
Breakers point guard Will McDowell-White (14 assists), who engaged in an engrossing duel with Giddey, produced a steal off his young opponent which led to a Colton Iverson slam before athletically swatting Brandon Paul's drive, inspiring NZ to a 47-43 half-time lead.
Delany and Johnson traded buckets in the third but it was the Kiwi who worked his way to the upper hand as the Breakers' advantage increased to double-digits.
Sunday Dech was whistled for a foul on NZ's Levi Randolph with 2.6 seconds left in the third term, angering Adelaide coach Conner Henry who earned a technical foul from referee Chris Reid.
"I cursed like every other coach in this league curses," Henry reflected.
"I was more upset about their import losing the ball.
"It should have been a no-call, just get on with it and play."
The Breakers sprinted ahead 80-60 following the 18-1 burst, which was sparked by Dech's foul and Henry's dissent, and remained in the box seat.
"In the first half they had 16 points off our nine turnovers," Henry said.
"We were better at that in the second half but in the third period we had 5-6 wide-open looks at the rim and couldn't finish.
"We call time-out, I get a technical and the game gets away from us."
Australian Associated Press
