Breakers score NBL win over JackJumpers

The resurgent New Zealand Breakers overcame foul trouble to consolidate their high NBL ladder position with an 84-76 win over Tasmania JackJumpers in Launceston.

The win took the second-placed Breakers to 7-3 for the season and it was their third win against Tasmania this season after beating them twice in New Zealand.

The Breakers had four players on three fouls by halftime with two of them, Barry Brown and Izayah Le'afa, each picking up a fourth in the third quarter.

However, the Breakers showed enough discipline for the remainder of the game with the two players who fouled out coming from the opposition.

Runs of eight and seven unanswered points in the fourth quarter proved decisive for the Breakers, who boast a 5-1 away record.

While they also scored the first eight points of the game, the visitors trailed by four at halftime and three at three-quarter time.

The JackJumpers missed their first six field goal attempts and took more than five minutes to finally nail one.

They piled on 13 straight second-quarter points to lead by seven, but were outscored 26-16 in the fourth.

Tempers frayed with players from both sides clashing near the end of the game and a clapper-type object landing on the court.

Both teams shot just under 40 per cent from the field, but the away side were significantly more productive from long range and from the charity stripe.

They made 10 of 26 three-pointers and 28 out of 36 free throws, while the JackJumpers were four from 21 and 18 from 21 in those categories respectively.

Forward Dererk Pardon was a force down low for the Breakers, grabbing 10 boards and making 13 of 17 free throw attempts in scoring a game-high 19 points.

Guard Le'afa bounced back from his early foul problems to notch 17 points, nailing four of seven three-point attempts and dishing out five assists.

Forward Rashard Kelly was a standout for the home side, top scoring with 17 points at 53 per cent from the field and pulling down a team-leading eight boards.

Fellow import Josh Magette scored 16, but missed 14 of his 17 field goal attempts and made just one of three from long range.

Tasmania centre Will Magnay played just under 14 and a half minutes in his first game since injuring a knee in February.

He didn't take a shot and finished without a point, but reiterated his rim-protecting abilities with a couple of blocks.

Also back for the first time this season was JackJumpers captain and veteran guard Clint Steindl, who nailed a couple of trademark three-pointers.