A full strenght South East Melbourne Phoenix proved too strong for the Breakers scoring a 99-77 win in their Australian National Basketball League game in Auckland.
Jarrell Brantley Photo: PHOTOSPORT
On the back of a three-game losing streak the Phoenix arrived in Auckand with their full roster available for the first time this season and they put together a performance that ended the Breaker's three game winning streak.
The Breakers defence was the key to their recent success, but they had no answer as the Phoenix piled on 38 points in the first quarter.
The visitors lead blew out to 29 in the third quarter.
Five Phoenix players scored in double figures, but having import guard Gary Browne running the point was massive and he finished with eight points and nine assists having shaken off a knee injury.
South East Melbourne shot at 62 per cent from the floor for the game while the Breakers managed just 38 with Jarrell Brantley battling hard for 17 points and four rebounds.
Dererk Pardon added 16 points and five boards and Izayah Le'afa 10 points and four assists despite shooting just 3/17.
Breakers coach Mody Maor just felt it was one of those nights where everything snowballed into the final result.
"You come into a game like this and there can be a few different scenarios. This is our third game in five days and we know our roster is short, all those excuses are kind of stacked in," Maor said.
"But you don't know how it's going to play out and this was worst case scenario. We weren't there from an intensity and competitive level, they made shots, it got away from us and we never really found a way back in.
"I can't fault my guys for trying, they never hang their heads and kept doing what they could, and we know we are better than this and will learn from this. We'll come back stronger in three days."
The Breakers sit fourth on the table with a 3 and 2 record.
The Breakers are away to the Cairns Taipans on Sunday.
