Leaky roof brings Illawarra Hawks-New Zealand Breakers NBL clash to end during third quarter
An indoor basketball match being abandoned due to weather? Now we’ve really heard it all. This was how the Illawarra-New Zealand NBL match ended in bizarre circumstances.
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It went from raining threes to raining inside the stadium as a leaky roof forced an early finish to Illawarra Hawks’ NBL match against New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.
The Breakers have been awarded the points after they were leading 65-52 during the third quarter at the WIN Entertainment Centre when the clash was abandoned.
Match officials held discussions and decided to call off the fixture due to rain leaking into the stadium and making the court slippery.
The outcome matters little to the last-placed Hawks, but a 13-point win will help New Zealand’s push for a playoff berth.
The Breakers were shooting at 64 per cent from outside the arc, with their efficiency from long range helping them establish a 16-point halftime buffer.
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As a result of a leak in the Wollongong Entertainment Centre roof being unable to be fixed, #NZBatILL has ended with 3:04 remaining in the 3rd quarter due to concerns for player safety.
— NBL (@NBL) February 2, 2020
Further details to come.#NBL20 pic.twitter.com/VezykCAgac
The Hawks had scored 18 points to 15 in the third quarter to trim the deficit when play was abandoned.
The NBL made a swift ruling on the outcome despite expectations it could take up to 24 hours to determine whether New Zealand would be awarded victory.
Sek Henry (17 points) and Finn Delany (16) were the stars for the Breakers, who have moved ahead of Melbourne United into fifth and remain an outside chance of securing a playoff spot.
Due to concerns for player safety, the game has been concluded after a leak in the WIN Entertainment Centre roof.
— Illawarra Hawks (@IllawarraHawks) February 2, 2020
The final score will sit at 65-52 with the Breakers taking the win.#FlyAsOne x #NBL20 pic.twitter.com/KORuFHiTn8
CONFIRMATION: Breakers will be awarded the WIN tonight against the @IllawarraHawks finishing the game with a final score of 65 - 52 #UNBREAKABLE #NBL20 pic.twitter.com/npdjJDpzyV
— SKY Sport Breakers NZ (@NZBreakers) February 2, 2020