Source: Radio New Zealand
Breakers forward Sam Mennenga Blake Armstrong / PHOTOSPORT
The Breakers have fallen to their first defeat of the Ignite Cup going down to South East Melbourne Phoenix 123-116 in Melbourne.
The Phoenix scored 74 points in the first half to take a 74-54 lead into the break and then held on for the victory.
The result all but secures the Breakers a place in the new in-season Ignite Cup final.
The Breakers now have 20 points from their four Ignite Cup games, meaning only Adelaide can finish with more while the Perth Wildcats could still join them on 20 next Wednesday against the Phoenix by claiming all seven points on offer.
The result keeps the Phoenix second in the overall NBL standings, while the Breakers are seventh on the table with a 10 win and 16 loss record.
Sam Mennenga top scored for the Breakers with 28 points, while captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 26.
The Breakers host the Adelaide 36ers on Friday.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
