The Illawarra Hawks, New Zealand Breakers, Adealide 36ers and Sydney Kings scored impressive wins on day one of the NBL Blitz in Bendigo on Thursday.
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The Hawks thumped the Brisbane Bullets 91-69, the Breakers outlasted the Perth Wildcats 88-84, the 36ers edged out Melbourne United 97-87, while the Kings defeated Cairns 75-60.
The winning quartet take a clear advatange into day two of the pre-season competition in Ballarat on Saturday.
The Hawks couldn’t have been more impressive in their win to open the tournament. After a slow start, the Hawks dominated the Bullets after quarter time.
A 30-18 second term set up the Hawks’ win. After leading the Bullets by eight points at the main break they outscored the Bullets 43-29 in the second half.
No Hawk was more impressive than import Jordair Jett, who scored 17 points on 6-8 shooting in just 22 minutes.
David Andersen and Tim Coneraad added 12 points each as every Hawk hit the scoreboard.
The Bullets took more three-point attempts than two-point attempts for the match. They were 13-35 from behind the three-point arc. All of guard Jason Cadee’s 15 points came from three-point bombs.
In game two, former Philadelphia 76ers big man Shawn Long and star guard Corey Webster led the NZ Breakers to victory against Perth.
Webster scored 24 points, including six three-pointers, but it was Long’s all-round game that created most interest.
Long scored 13 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had two steals and two blocks.
Former Melbourne United forward Tai Wesley chipped in with 16 points.
Perth, who were without key duo Damian Martin and Angus Brandt, were best served by import guard Bryce Cotton and Jesse Wagstaff with 17 points each and power forward Nick Kay added 16 points and nine boards.
Adelaide proved too good for Melbourne United in their first battle since last season’s grand final.
The 36ers’ better execution at the offensive end was the difference between the two sides in a high quality contest.
The 36ers had six players score in double figures, including new import Jacob Wiley who had 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Melbourne United, who were without import Josh Boone, led by as many as nine points in the first half.
They couldn’t maintain the momentum after half-time. Star guard Chris Goulding was a wayward 5-16 from the field. Casper Ware led United with 16 points.
In the final game of the day, Andrw Bogut had three points and five rebounds in 19 minutes as the Sydney Kings defeated the Cairns Taipans 75-60.
Brad Newley led the Kings with 15 points, while import Devon Hall had a game-high 20 points for the Taipans.