NBL: 36ers edge Breakers and Wildcats clip Hawks’ wings

Ice-cool Daniel Johnson helped Adelaide survive a late scare to defeat the New Zealand Breakers.

Josh Childress of the Adelaide 36ers, right, looks to drive past Tom Abercrombie of the New Zealand Breakers. Picture: AAP

Ice-cool Daniel Johnson helped Adelaide survive a late scare to defeat the New Zealand Breakers 95-92 yesterday.

Comfortably ahead 93-80 with just over two minutes to play, the Sixers suddenly staggered as Edgar Sosa (24 points) sparked a stunning 12-0 Breakers revival to slice the deficit to one point.

After rebounding teammate Josh Childress’s missed three, Johnson (17 points, 11-of-12 free throws) was fouled and calmly connected twice from the foul line before Sosa’s desperate heave at the death rimmed out.

Meanwhile, US guard Bryce Cotton claimed 36 points to lead reigning NBL champions Perth to a 99-91 victory in Wollongong.

As was the case in last year’s grand final series between the two sides, the Hawks couldn’t thwart Cotton, who stole the show with his season-high haul. The Wildcats boosted their record to 10-3 while Illawarra slipped to 5-8.

“We were getting Bryce some consistent open looks,” Perth coach Trevor Gleeson said.

“He knocked down his first four and it’s kind of a no-brainer for the coach to get him the ball.

“Probably points-wise (it was his best game) but he does other things for us. We had to do a better job of finding him in the right spots and we’re doing that.”

The Hawks host Melbourne United in round 10 on Saturday night, while the Wildcats have a Saturday home game against Brisbane.

“We put ourselves in a position (to win) but had some minor breakdowns in the second half and they punish you on that,” Hawks coach Rob Beveridge said. “We’re playing against a quality side and you have to have that consistency and attention to the little details for 40 minutes. We had a lack of communication at times.

“We’re getting there. We’re so close to being good.”

AAP