The MVP is back and so too, it would appear, are the NZ Breakers. Inspired by a statement-making, and game-high, 22-point display from Cedric Jackson the Breakers have opened their National Basketball League season with a stunning 80-70 upset over the defending champions in Perth.
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In a dose of long-overdue payback, the Breakers went into Perth Arena on the night the Wildcats raised their sixth championship banner, and rained on their parade with a victory that was a lot less comfortable than it looked like it was going to be at halftime.
But the Breakers survived a fabulous Perth comeback from 23 down at the half that whittled the deficit down to single figures by the end of the third quarter and to five points inside the final three minutes.
It was Jackson who made the big play with a knifing, twisting drive that put the Breakers up by seven with 95 seconds remaining, and from there the Auckland club got the stops they needed to secure a huge opening-night win.
Two years ago it had been the Wildcats who had done the same thing to the Breakers on their banner night in Auckland. But on Friday night in the west of Australia it was very much the Action Jackson show as the league's MVP from 2012-13 showed he's ready to take up right where he left off.
Jackson, back after a season in Slovenia, had 22 points on eight-of-11 shooting (including three of five from beyond the arc) to carry the Breakers offensive load. The mercurial point guard added five boards, five assists and a steal to go with six turnovers in a comprehensive all-round display.
The Breakers needed it. Already down Tom Abercrombie, who was recovering from sports hernia surgery, they got just 13 rather tentative minutes from hobbled centre Alex Pledger and lost Tall Blacks star Corey Webster to what looked like a back injury in the first half.
New signing Rhys Carter chipped in with 14 points (5/8 FG, 3/5 3PT) and seven assists off the bench - a dozen of his points coming in the first half - while Reuben Te Rangi made two big triples as he added 10 points (4/10 FG), four boards and a massive late block.
New import Ekene Ibekwe showed glimpses of what he's capable of with 10 points (5/6 FG), six rebounds and a block in just under 20 minutes before fouling out early in the final quarter.
Mika Vukona shook off a poor shooting night (he made just two of his eight attempts) to haul in 10 boards and a pair of steals.
The Wildcats were paced by a classy 20 points from new import DeAndre Daniels, who has both hops and range, and an efficient 19 from veteran power forward Shawn Redhage.
The Breakers had played a near perfect first half as they stunned the Wildcats, running out to a 23-point lead (49-26) on the back of some excellent shooting, high-energy defence and outstanding rebounding.
The numbers told the story, too, as the Breakers nearly doubled their opening quarter lead of 14 (28-14) behind big first-half efforts from Jackson (12 points on four-of-six shooting) and Carter (12 points at a four-of-five clip).
They shot 50 percent from the field, 60 from deep and contained the normally reliable Wildcats offence to just 30 percent from the floor. The Breakers also won the boards - a must for success in Perth - 21-11, had an 11-2 edge in points off turnovers and 18-8 advantage in the paint.
They are all numbers Perth normally control at their best; but on this occasion it was the visitors who won those hustle stats and in turn controlled the game.
The Cats, as you'd expect, made a big-time run in the third quarter, upping the ante with their defence and making shots as they carved the deficit back to 16 early and to nine at the final break - courtesy of five points in the final five seconds.
That 31-17 third quarter put the Cats right back in it, and it didn't get much better for the Kiwi club over the run home as they got stuck in hang-on mode. Luckily they had just enough in the tank to strike back when it really counted and come away with a win that will do their confidence wonders.
The Breakers shot 45 percent for the game and kept the Cats to just 35, and won the rebound count 40-27. Their next game is their home opener next Friday against the Adelaide 36ers at Vector.
NZ Breakers 80 (Cedric Jackson 22, Rhys Carter 14, Ekene Ibekwe 10, Reuben Te Rangi 10) Perth Wildcats 70(Shawn Redhage 20, DeAndre Daniels 19, Jermaine Beal 12). 1Q: 28-14; HT: 49-26; 3Q: 66-57
