AUS - CJ steps up for 400 game celebration

ADELAIDE (NBL) - CJ Bruton has celebrated his 400th NBL game in style, leading the New Zealand Breakers to a hard fought and thrilling 82-78 road victory over the Adelaide 36ers.

Despite coming into the game under an injury cloud, Bruton made big plays throughout to keep Adelaide at bay, finishing with 18 points on 8/10 shooting to go with 4 rebounds. His wily backcourt partner, former Georgetown star Kevin Braswell was also a force with 18 points and 6 assists, though he did cough up 6 turnovers.

Apart from Bruton becoming just the 40th player to reach the 400 game milestone, the story of the game were the highlight reel plays. The match featured 37 assists and an array of dunks, with New Zealand jumping jack Thomas Abercrombie leading the way with four jams and a twisting reverse alley-oop.

Abercrombie finished with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists and the play of the game - an incredible one-handed block on Adelaide import Craig Winder's flying dunk attempt.

The Breakers led by 8 at the first change and 51-40 at half time, with their 'roll call' of shooters connecting on 20/38 for the half.

In the second half Adelaide upped the physicality and slowed the Breakers down, tying the game 64-64 at the last break behind the intense defence of 2003 FIBA U19 World Championship gold medallist Rhys Carter (3 steals).

In the last quarter, however, Bruton, Braswell and Abercrombie hit the big shots, and their line-up of other internationals - Mika Vukona (10 points, 8 rebounds), Dillon Boucher (4 rebounds, 3 assists), Alex Pledger (4 rebounds) and Corey Webster - all made contributions along the way.

In a scary sign for the rest of the NBL, the Breakers were without Kirk Penney, the second leading scorer at this year's FIBA World Championship, who is in Italy for his brother's wedding. Penney will also miss New Zealand's match-up with defending champion Perth on Sunday, which many expect to be a grand final preview.

For Adelaide, Adam Ballinger was ultra efficient with 16 points on 8/11 shooting, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks. Former Australian junior representatives Brad Hill (11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) and Daniel Johnson (9 points, 2 steals) were both good in limited minutes, but the home team struggled to find consistent offensive contributors as they shot 3/19 from the perimeter.

New 36ers recruit and Australia's tallest man, 223cm Sam Harris scored his first NBL basket in the final minute of the third quarter, slamming home a pass from Johnson much to the delight of the 5430 fans on hand. Harris was a teammate of Carter's on that gold medal winning Australian side in 2003, but has taken time developing into the pro game.

Adelaide drop to 2-3 and next face Townsville and Cairns on a tough 'Sunshine Swing' road trip through North Queensland. New Zealand, who are 5-0, face Perth before returning home to play the second-placed Wollongong Hawks.

Paulo Kennedy
FIBA