BOXSCORE

A stunning final quarter handed the New Zealand Breakers a 79-74 win over the Melbourne Tigers in their NBL clash at a packed North Shore Events Centre on Thursday night.

The Breakers, who lost to the Tigers two games ago, trailed last year's champions for much of the game before hitting their straps in the second half.

Some staunch Breakers defence in the final quarter rattled the Tigers and allowed the home side to get a valuable lead that they never lost with key players stepping up and doing the business.

CJ Bruton again top-scored for the Breakers with 32 points with Rick Rickerts, in his 50th game, scoring 16 and Oscar Forman picking up nine.

Thomas Abercrombie and Tony 'The Bear' Ronaldson defended well, out-muscling the Tigers at crucial times throughout the game.

Sam MacKinnon and Daryl Corletto top-scored for Melbourne with 13 points each, while Mark Worthington got 11 of his own.

The game was a contrast of last year's semi-final, when the Breakers gave away an early lead to lost to the Tigers who went on to win the competition.

Bruton opened up the scoring for the Breakers, scoring the first seven points for his side. It was all Melbourne in the opening quarter however, taking a 21-16 lead with Worthington picking up seven and Corletto with four.

The Breakers were kept at bay by the star-studded Tigers for much of the second quarter and were down 39-30 at halftime with Corletto top-scoring for Melbourne with 10 points.

The hosts struck back in the third quarter though, getting within one point of the Tigers with Rickerts showing some dominance under the hoop and youngster Abercrombie grabbing some valuable rebounds.

Worthington nailed a free throw to stretch the lead to 54-52 at the end of the third quarter but there were some worried faces on the Tigers players as the Breakers had well and truly got themselves back in the game.

Two Bruton three-pointers in the opening stages of the final quarter handed the Breakers the lead, much to the satisfaction of the big, vocal crowd.

The Australian international looked like he was enjoying himself, taking his points tally 24 points.

Abercrombie's defence was causing a few problems for the Tigers, forcing Worthington to foul and handing the Breakers a two-point lead with four minutes remaining.

Two rebounds to Tony Ronaldson allowed the Breakers to further their lead to eight points with another three to Bruton and a well-worked slam dunk to Abercrombie.

More tough defence and some frantic, unrewarding play kept Melbourne from getting too close to the Breakers who secured a well-earned, memorable win, their second of the season.

New Zealand Breakers 79 (Bruton 32, Rickert 16, Forman 9)

Melbourne Tigers 74 (Corletto 13, MacKinnon 13, Worthington 11)