R21 Game Preview: Phoenix v Breakers

Opponent: New Zealand Breakers

Where: The Trusts Arena, Auckland

When: Saturday, June 5 – 5.30pm AEST

Broadcast: SBS Viceland, SBS On Demand, Twitch, NBL TV

Phoenix NBL21 Record: 18-16 (fourth on the ladder)

The fourth-placed South East Melbourne Phoenix travel to Auckland to take on the revitalised New Zealand Breakers in a significant night for their finals prospects.

A Phoenix win will all but secure their place in the top four and lock in a maiden finals campaign, while a loss will set up a do-or-die clash with Brisbane on Tuesday night.

The Phoenix are 0-2 since making a swift relocation to Cairns last week but could still finish as high as third with two wins from their final two fixtures.

The Breakers will be keen to impress their home fans in their final game of NBL21, having missed out on playing in front of a New Zealand crowd for the majority of the year.

But the Kiwis have struggled to handle the Phoenix this year, losing all three matchups.

SQUAD

Cam Gliddon will miss as he remains home for the birth of his second child.

Dane Pineau (knee) has been ruled out for the season.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Ryan Broekhoff started in the place of Cam Gliddon on Wednesday against Brisbane and put together a solid night, recording 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes.

The sharpshooter has seen his minutes slowly rise since returning from a facial fracture and is starting to look more comfortable on the court.

With Mitch Creek at his dominant best, a hot Broekhoff by his side could be the difference in the final week of the Phoenix’s regular season.

OPPOSITION REPORT

New Zealand sit eighth on the NBL table with a 12-23 record.

Their most recent game was a six-point win over Cairns on Wednesday night.

They have recently returned home to New Zealand to finally play games in front of a home crowd, having spent the entirety of the season on the road in Australia.

Import wing Levi Randolph scored a season-high 30 points last week against Brisbane and has been on a tear over the last five games, averaging 19.6 points.

Randolph’s 15 points per game on the season is just behind the team’s leading scorers in Tai Webster and Finn Delany.

HISTORY VS. OPPOSITION

Head-to-Head Record:

Phoenix 4 Breakers 3

NBL21:

Phoenix def Breakers 103-89 

Phoenix def Breakers 92-85

Phoenix def Breakers 91-82

NBL20:

Phoenix def Breakers 103-78

Breakers def Phoenix 90-84

Breakers def Phoenix 97-92

Breakers def Phoenix 92-83

Sam Bunn for Phoenix Media (04/06/2021)