Luck Eludes Breakers in Melbourne

Melbourne continues to be a bogey destination for the BNZ Breakers with a 90-79 loss to the Phoenix at John Cain Arena.

Mitch Creek fired a personal season-high 26 points while the Breakers have now only won once in their last 14 games in Australia's second biggest city.

It wasn't until the fourth quarter when the Phoenix were able to breakaway from New Zealand, though, with the Breakers coming off a win against the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night in Christchurch.

A gruelling travel schedule to get to Melbourne to play less than 48 hours later against a fresh opponent meant that the Breakers simply ran out of legs in the finish, highlighted as their shooting percentages plummeted the longer the game went, including going 7-of-26 from three-point territory.

Three days after he was ejected for remonstrating with officials during a win over the Adelaide 36ers, Breakers coach Mody Maor again had his blood boiling with his side on the wrong side of the whistle early in Melbourne.

There were frustrations for the visitors as starters Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Finn Delany both racked up three fouls before halftime, though they led 45-41 at the main break.

The advantage swelled to six points during the third period before Creek helped wrest control for the Phoenix, producing his game-high points tally on 10-of-15 shooting.

Star import Alan Williams (10 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists) was also influential and Will Cummings (15 points) provided punch off the bench.

Izayah Le'afa (17 points) continued his strong form off the bench for the Kiwis, while Anthony Lamb (14 points, seven rebounds) and Jackson-Cartwright (14 points, seven assists) were busy.

The Breakers (4-8) have now lost 14 of their last 15 games at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 9

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 90 (Creek 26, Cummings 15, Browne 12)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 79 (Le’afa 17, Jackson-Cartwright 14, Lamb 14)

BOX SCORE