The NZ Breakers are $300,000 richer after overcoming a Bryce Cotton masterclass to defeat the Adelaide 36ers 111-107 in the inaugural Ignite Cup final on the Gold Coast.
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In front of a sold-out crowd of about 5000 on Sunday, Cotton threatened to drag Adelaide over the line with a haul of 34-points and nine assists.
But NZ came up with the goods when it mattered most, and it was lightning-quick guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright who stood the tallest.
The 30-year-old was limited to just six points in the first half, but he exploded in the second half to finish with 29 points, five assists and two steals in a huge display.
Jackson-Cartwright had plenty of help.
Sam Mennenga (21 points), Izaiah Brockington (21 points), Reuben Te Rangi (17 points, eight rebounds) and Karim Lopez (12 points, eight rebounds, five assists) all stepped up in key moments to lift NZ to the upset win.
Mennenga was particularly crucial in the final 20 seconds, nailing four free throws to ensure Adelaide couldn't get within striking distance.
It means NZ walk away with the $300,000 winner's cheque, with 60 per cent of that to go to the players under NBL rules.
So what does the win mean to the Breakers?
"I'm not going to sit here and lie and say it's not about the money, because it is," Jackson-Cartwright said.
"That was the whole point of the Ignite Cup - to have a chance at the money
"But long term it will bond us for life. When we come back, we'll say, 'Man, we did this together'.
"Every time you can win a championship at any level, at any point in the season, is really great.
"I feel over the moon. You're left speechless when you win a game like that."
Adelaide still walked away with $100,000 for being runners-up, and now have a big finals campaign to prepare for after finishing second on the ladder.
Cotton, who missed Adelaide's final regular-season game with a back niggle, looked like he hadn't missed a beat, while Zylan Cheatham (21 points, three blocks) and Nick Rakocevic (21 points, 11 rebounds) were huge at both ends of the court.
NZ (13-20) finished the regular season in seventh spot, meaning they missed out on the play-in tournament for the finals.
But they excelled in the Wednesday night Ignite Cup games, in which teams earn three points for a win and one point for each quarter won, with the top two teams playing off in the final.
"What a year. Rollercoaster. Many up and downs. Heartbreaking losses," Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said.
"This is the way to finish the year. I'm so proud of this group.
"We stuck together, and this is the result."
Cotton scored eight points in the first quarter, and he had a huge influence early in the second term as Adelaide opened up a six-point lead, with the highlight being a huge alley-oop dunk from Cheatham.
Adelaide went into half-time with a 54-47 lead, but NZ had a huge highlight of their own late in the second quarter when Carlin Davison jumped across two defenders to produce a stunning dunk.
Jackson-Cartwright had little influence in the first half, but his 12-point haul in the third quarter helped turn the contest on its head as NZ soared to victory.
Australian Associated Press
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