Wells Satisfied with Hard-Fought Road Victory over Breakers
Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Mike Wells described the win over New Zealand Breakers as an “ugly win” but was pleased with his team’s grit in securing the victory on Thursday night. The Sixers triumphed 83-79 at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, marking their first win at this venue in three attempts.
Key Players and Game Summary
Bryce Cotton led the scoring with 23 points, adding five assists and two crucial steals. Despite a strong late push from the Breakers, the Sixers managed to hold on and maintain their advantage.
Game Context and Momentum
The Sixers entered the match having won three of their last four games against New Zealand, though the Breakers had claimed victory in each of the last five meetings between the teams. The game featured notable momentum swings, but Adelaide came out on top.
Coach Mike Wells on the Game Performance
“I thought that was a really, really hard fought NBL game. On the road, you've got to kind of bite and scrap and do a whole bunch of things, and sometimes it's not perfect and it's not pretty, but we got the win.”
“We gave up 33 points in the second quarter, and they scored 32 for the whole second half. That's what we've been preaching about.”
“I thought our transition defence was outstanding, particularly in the fourth (and) I thought that we had some really good efforts and big games from a lot of different guys.”
“Of course, we want to clean it up a little bit at the end so it could be a little bit easier, but, you know, you give them credit, they fought, they scrapped, they fought, and we hung in there, and we got to win.”
Summary
The Sixers' determined defense and teamwork enabled a tough road victory despite imperfect play, showcasing their resilience and strategic adjustments.