BNZ Breakers shoot the lights out to tame Wildcats

The BNZ Breakers have returned to winning form with an 89-85 win over Perth Wildcats in front of a vocal home crowd at Spark Arena on Saturday night.

Guard Matt Mooney was in electrifying form, scoring a game high 28 points on 57% from the field. His ability to knock down shots from deep was key, as he drilled an impressive seven three-pointers from 10 attempts.

Mooney’s offensive explosion was especially vital during the Wildcats’ third-quarter surge, where Perth threatened to claw back the hosts’ lead.

Complementing Mooney’s effort was forward Max Darling, whose efficient performance gave the Breakers an important presence inside.

Darling finished with 15 points on 71% from the field, and his contributions in the paint provided a necessary counterbalance to the Wildcats’ size.

Darling’s offensive impact was felt early, converting 4 of 6 three-pointers to help stretch the Wildcats’ defence. His ability to finish around the rim also forced Perth to collapse on him, opening up space for shooters like Mooney to operate on the perimeter.

After Bryce Cotton left the court injured early in the contest, Tai Webster and Kristian Doolittle stepped up to lead the charge for Perth, with Webster scoring 20 points and Doolittle posting a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was tense as Perth closed the gap late in the third quarter, reducing the Breakers’ lead to just four points.

In the final minutes, it was the Breakers’ defence that came up clutch. Freddie Gillespie, who had a strong game off the bench, pulled down eight rebounds and made two key blocks in the final quarter, helping stifle the Wildcats’ offence.

Head coach Petteri Koponen said it was a great feeling to come away with the result in front of a large home crowd.

“It was a good game from us. It was nice being back at home in front of our fans. A big thank you to our fans - they gave us an extra push when we needed that,” Koponen said.

“As well, a shoutout to our bigs tonight. We had a big conversation after our last game that we needed to screen and make contact to get our shooters open and I thought they did a great job of that tonight.

“We will just enjoy this great win and then go from there and get better. Like I’ve said from the beginning it’s a great group of guys who every day come with the right attitude to the gym.”

The BNZ Breakers now prepare to take the court on Thursday night when they host S.E. Melbourne Phoenix at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch.