IN the sole game of the sixth round of the National Basketball League (NBL), fans were treated to not only a thrilling match, but a shock result as well. The New Zealand Breakers were able to claim their first win of the season, taking down a Brisbane Bullets side that looked on the charge over recent weeks. The Breakers have been dealt a rough hand for the 2021/22 season, with the side stranded in Australia for months on end with no return date announced due to border restrictions. These obstacles had unfortunately reflected in their performance, with the team unable to claim a win from their opening batch of matches. However, this changed on Sunday afternoon, when they defeated the Bullets at Nissan Arena on the back of a strong performance from Yannick Wetzell and early team dominance.

The opening quarter saw the Breakers storm past their opponents in the early stages of the game, building a dominant lead in the first period. The Bullets simply could not get themselves rolling in the opening minutes, with a combination of inaccurate shooting and an inability to hold on to the ball proving costly. The Breakers were able to rally behind the impressive work of Wetzell inside the paint as the broke free of their opponents. By the time the first break rolled around, the Breakers had doubled the score of their opponents, as they claimed a whopping 13-point lead as Brisbane found themselves with plenty to do.

The second term saw the Bullets bounce back, producing an offensive output much like the ones we expected heading into the match. One of the most surprising sources of success came in the form of backup centre Jack Salt, who provided a serious amount of spark. With starting centre Tyrell Harrison in foul trouble early in the game, Salt checked in despite extremely limited minutes throughout the season. Salt was terrific during his time on the court, delivering energy to a side that was desperate for some life. The Bullets were able to trim the lead down to nine points, producing some strong signs.

The third term saw an even affair, with the Breakers extending their lead early in the term as they looked to seal the game with plenty of time remaining. However, the clock ended up hurting them, with the Bullets finding enough time in the period to trim the margin down to manageable. With the youth of the Breakers common knowledge around the league, there was always worries of the Bullets using their experience to produce a comeback, and with the margin back to seven points at three-quarter time, things were set up for a blockbuster final term.

The fourth period saw the Bullets continue their late charge, with players such as Lamar Patterson and Robert Franks starting to heat up. The Nissan Arena crowd began to get involved, with every possession carrying heavy significance due to the tense nature of the game. On multiple occasions, the lead was brought back to just a single possession thanks to some strong work from the Bullets. However, they could not take the next step and take an unlikely lead, with the Breakers delivering some impressive work in the clutch on the defensive end. A fastbreak turnover from Franks essentially sealed the deal, giving New Zealand their first win in a tumultuous year.

For the Breakers, Wetzell was the clear star, stepping up in the absence of team captain Thomas Abercrombie and leading his side to a memorable victory. The big man finished with a game-high 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two stills in a commanding performance as he was clearly the best player on the court. There were a number of strong contributors for the Breakers, but none were more impressive than Wetzell. For the Bullets, Patterson was a major reason for his side almost stealing the win. When the side needed some offensive firepower, the forward delivered, finishing with 17 valuable points.