Abercrombie the OT Hero as Breakers Secure Second

Tom Abercrombie has had countless huge moments as one of the New Zealand Breakers all-time greats, but his steal to close Saturday night's game with the Brisbane Bullets to secure 80-75 overtime win and second spot is right up there.

Abercrombie was playing the 391st game of a career with the Breakers that's already seen him be part of four championships and a Grand Final MVP, but he continues to be the inspirational leader for his team.

All New Zealand had to do was go into Nissan Arena on Saturday night and beat the second last placed Bullets to guarantee themselves second position and an automatic place in the semi finals.

However, the Bullets were not in a giving mood and wanted to reward their biggest home crowd of the season, 5253, with a win.

Brisbane did throw the challenge down to New Zealand leading by 12 during the second quarter and even though the Breakers came out strongly to start the second half, they could never shake the Bullets.

Scores were locked at 71-71 at the end of regulation but in overtime, it was a massive Will McDowell-White three-pointer and then a steal from Abercrombie up top on Nathan Sobey that secured the crucial win.

Sobey was all set to try and make a play to level scores up again, but Abercrombie picked his pocket and the Breakers went on to win by five to finish the regular season in second spot at 18-10. 

They will now wait to find out who they play in the semi finals while Brisbane's season ends at 8-20.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch your pockets around Tom Abercrombie! That steal is ??????!<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports + Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/u0vALnOvWn">pic.twitter.com/u0vALnOvWn</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1621831143539769344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jarrell Brantley again top-scored for New Zealand with 19 points and five rebounds with Will McDowell-White adding 15 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals.

Tom Abercrombie added 14 points and four steals, Izayah Le'afa 12 points, two rebounds and two steals, and Tom Vodanovich 10 points and three rebounds.

Breakers coach Mody Maor couldn’t have been prouder of his team for securing second position.

"Second place is awesome. We talked about this today in the morning and I brought to the coaching staff the predictions of everybody before the season," Maor said.

"They (Brisbane) were supposed to be champions and we were supposed to be going home. So to come here and win in this way after a tough, hard fought game after a tough stretch, I couldn’t be happier and couldn’t be prouder."

Aron Baynes top-scored for Brisbane with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists with Tyler Johnson contributing 15 points, three assists and three rebounds, Nathan Sobey 14 points, three boards and three assists, Andrew White III nine points and six rebounds, and DJ Mitchell eight points and eight boards.

Bullets coach Greg Vanderjagt was pleased that his team finished the season in the right way with a performance they could be proud of.

"Obviously disappointed with the outcome but incredibly proud of the group to keep grinding," Vanderjagt said. 

"We played with incredible intent at the defensive end tonight, we found ways to get stops and we mixed things up. They competed and played for each other, they played for the fans and we had a sold out crowd. 

"The fan base and members have been unbelievable all season and it's a credit to them for voting with their feet. They keep showing up to keep supporting the team and I think the team rewarded them tonight with an effort that they can be proud of. 

"Collectively everyone who played and even those who didn’t play, gave something to the group tonight which is really pleasing."

Jarrell Brantley started the game continuing his hot shooting for New Zealand with a three-pointer, but the Bullets soon settled into the contest and it was Boomers pair Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes leading the charge.

Baynes and Rasmus Bach, against his former team, then hit threes heading towards quarter-time to give Brisbane the narrow 18-16 advantage with both teams shooting 6/15 from the field.

Tyler Johnson opened his scoring account to start the second term and then the home team went on a 10-0 run.

That was capped off with three-pointers from Andrew White III and Baynes to see the lead get out to 30-18 and the Breakers had some work to do. 

A pair of threes from Izayah Le'afa and then another from Tom Vodanovich were important for New Zealand, and so was another from captain Tom Abercrombie, but still the Bullets led 42-36 going into half-time.

Baynes was the game's leading scorer with 12 points and the Bullets also got to the foul line 12 times to just four from the Breakers.

The Breakers came out to start the second half with a 13-3 run including a three to Brantley, and and-one completions from Dererk Pardon and McDowell-White.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bangers and Bach ?<br><br>We hope the fans in Nissan Arena brought their umbrellas! ????<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports + Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/LdB0m0fv1n">pic.twitter.com/LdB0m0fv1n</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1621802855308091392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That had New Zealand out to a four-point lead but Brisbane wouldn’t go away and by three quarter-time, the two teams couldn’t be separated with scores locked at 54-54.

Breakers coach Mody Maor implored his captain to shoot his shot at three quarter-time, and Abercrombie knocked down a three-pointer to start the fourth period.

Things got decidedly untidy over the next couple of minutes before a nice fadeaway jumper for Brisbane from Sobey, and then Abercrombie put New Zealand back on top with another three ball.

The Bullets stayed in touch, though, and a late three-pointer from Tyler Johnson kept them within two.

Baynes made one free-throw before McDowell-White coughed up a turnover for the Breakers to give the Bullets the chance after a timeout with 12 seconds to play.

In the end, Johnson was isolated with Le'afa up top, he drove and was fouled with 5.7 to go. He made both to give Brisbane the one-point lead with a timeout to New Zealand.

Out of that play, McDowell-White found Loe rolling to the bucket on the inbounds pass. Baynes fouled him and Loe made one, and the game went to overtime just to add to the drama.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The rim was not ready for Jarrell Brantley to pull that one ??? ??? ??? back ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports + Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/U8Z90g7F8I">pic.twitter.com/U8Z90g7F8I</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1621807008331730944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams appeared out on their feet during overtime and Pardon and Loe fouling out for the Breakers didn’t help their cause.

New Zealand was up one when the Bullets sent Brantley to the stripe with 16 seconds to go. He made both but Brisbane had one last chance out of a timeout.

It was all set up for Sobey to make a play, but Abercrombie pulled off the steal and the win, and second place, was secured for New Zealand.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

BRISBANE BULLETS 75 (Baynes 17, Johnson 15, Sobey 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 80 (Brantley 19, McDowell-White 15, Abercrombie 14) 

BOX SCORE