Basketball On The Internet.

THE Breakers escaped Townsville with a tougher NBL win than the 86-75 scoreline suggests, but NZ almost shot itself in the foot with its wayward free throw shooting.

Come to think of it, at 13-of-31 from the freebie stripe, they would have missed their feet too.

CHARLES Jackson: He flopped, shooting 2-of-7 from the stripe.

The Breakers aborting 18 FTs is the second worst return in the NBL's history where a minimum of 30 foulshots have been attempted..

The worst FT percentage in the league's history is 41.7 (15-of-36) by Cairns against the Breakers two years ago.

Next is last night's 41.9 per cent ineptitude by the Breakers.

That, and Townsville's tenacity, kept the game closer than it otherwise might have been after NZ led 28-15 after one, Mika Vukona left to make huge plays down the stretch to ensure the W.

YES: This is what Charles Jackson does better.

Today: EBI Ere needs to show he is capable of holding down an import spot and Daniel Johnson has to play like Daniel Johnson if the 36ers are to cause a boilover against United in Melbourne. Adelaide at its best would win this but that's not who or what we saw on Friday so it's a toss up. I'm sticking with Adelaide but at Hisense and with Melbourne's backs to the wall, I might be the only one.

Last night: NZ BREAKERS 86 (Ch Jackson 22, Abercrombie 19, Webster 17, Ce Jackson 13; Pledger, Abercrombie 7 rebs; Ce Jackson 7 assts) d TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES 75 (Jett 15, Steindl 13, Kay 12, Norton 10; Henry 8 rebs; Maynard 4 assts) at The Swamp, Townsville.