Teen playmaking wizard Josh Giddy has notched the maiden triple-double of his NBL career but it was for nought as his Adelaide 36ers were overwhelmed 93-77 by the NZ Breakers on Monday night.
Earmarked as an NBA prospect, Giddey scored 12 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished 10 assists, recording the first triple-double by a 36er since former import Julius Hodge in 2008.
However it turned out to be the Breakers' night in Launceston.
Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie wound back the clock, scoring 19 points in his 354th game as he equalled Mika Vukona's club record for appearances.
Finn Delany (23 points, three treys) was a constant inside-outside threat and the man chiefly responsible for the Breakers' commanding 46-34 second half.
"We came with the right mentality and speed and we shared the ball collectively," Breakers coach Dan Shamir said.
"Twenty one assists is the way we should play and it should happen more often."
Sixers skipper Daniel Johnson posted 20 points for the 36ers.
The Breakers opened up a 16-6 lead early before Adelaide, piloted by twin towers Johnson and Isaac Humphries, closed the gap to 25-19 at quarter-time.
Breakers point guard Will McDowell-White (14 assists), engaged in an engrossing duel with Giddey and produced a steal off his young opponent which led to a Colton Iverson slam before athletically swatting Brandon Paul's drive, inspiring NZ to a 47-43 half-time lead.
Delany and Johnson traded buckets in the third but it was the Kiwi who gained the upper hand as the Breakers' advantage increased to double-digits.
Sunday Dech was whistled for a foul on Levi Randolph with 2.6 seconds left in the third term, angering Adelaide coach Conner Henry who earned a technical foul from referee Chris Reid.
"I cursed like every other coach in this league curses," Henry said.
"I was more upset about their import losing the ball.
"It should have been a no-call - just get on with it and play."
The Breakers sprinted ahead 80-60 following the 18-1 burst - which was sparked by Dech's foul and Henry's dissent - and remained in the box seat.
"In the first half they had 16 points off our nine turnovers," Henry said.
"We were better at that in the second half but in the third period we had 5-6 wide-open looks at the rim and couldn't finish.
"We call time-out, I get a technical and the game gets away from us."
