Basketball On The Internet.

TREVOR Gleeson's faith in his younger brigade paid off handsomely yesterday in Auckland where Keanu Rasmussen stood up to underpin Adelaide's road win, while NBL leader Tasmania suffered further injuries as David Johnson and Ben Gold were eliminated in the Jackies' loss to Sydney.

The game in Auckland had been a cracker, Bryce Cotton (31 points at 56 per cent, 4 threes, 6 assists) leading a 36ers rampage that saw them ahead for more than 32 minutes of a gripping contest.

With Rasmussen and Matt Kenyon mainly crowding and harassing Parker Jackson-Cartwright (9 points on 4-of-11 shooting) into a less effective performance, it again was Carlin Davison who stepped up for the Breakers.

He finished with 16 points at 73 per cent and 11 assists, and with Charles Bediako (16 points including 8-of-10 free throws) and Dejan Vasiljevic (15 points) offering better than token support, New Zealand hit the front late.

Sam Mennenga (28 points at 55 per cent, 6-of-9 threes) was at the forefront of the Breakers recovery, Adelaide drawing the usual solid service from imports Nick Rakocevic (17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists) and Zylan Cheatham (17 points at 56 per cent, 7 rebounds).

Finding his long-range stroke, John Jenkins knocked down 21 points, New Zealand ahead during the final term before Cotton (13 points in the period and 3 3-point makes) cut loose.

Bediako scrapped for a loose ball, got it to Jackson-Cartwright who fed Davison for a dunk and 98-101, just 1:16 left.

Adelaide took time-out, ran a play, Rakocevic driving toward the hoop but dishing the ball to the corner. Rasmussen caught the assist and swished the threeball, maybe the biggest of his career, for the 104-98 buffer.

Jenkins free throws pushed it out further to 106-98 before a long Mennenga 3-pointer at 17 seconds left gave the Breakers a sniff.

Rasmussen took the sniff and snuffed it out from the free throw line, icing two freebies for 108-101 and this one was over.

Tasmania looked to have its match against Sydney sewn up when it led a low-scoring contest 66-59 inside the final four minutes.

But the match was being played at the Silverdome in Launceston where the JackJumpers are 2-of-10 in "home" wins and winners of one in their past five.

Silver isn't quite as good as gold and the Kings showed the gold standard, Torrey Criag (8 points on 3-of-13)) cutting it to 61-66 with a layup.

Makuach Maluach's 3-pointer sliced it to 64-66 and his second one in quick succession gave Sydney the lead 67-66.

Single makes from the free throw line by first Tyler Robertson, then Xavier Cooks (15 points at 75 per cent) nudged the lead to 69-66, before Kody Stattmann's tip-in made it 68-69 for the Jackies.

Tassie forced to foul, Robertson this time sank both for 71-68 and when Taran Armstrong (13 points, 4-of-18 shooting) missed both of his, the second deliberately, this one was blundered away.

Josh Bannan had an 11-11 double-double before fouling out and Dakota Mathias struck 20 points. But losing Johnson after only 8:21 of action to a reported hamstring injury was costly for Tassie.

Kendric Davis had 20 points but also on a hideous 7-of-26, Sydney shooting it at 36 per cent, Tasmania at 32. Not one for the time capsule.

NBL Results Round 7, Friday

Adelaide 36ers 108 (Cotton 31, Jenkins 21, Cheatham, Rakocevic 17; Rakocevic 11 rebs; Cotton 6 assts) d New Zealand Breakers 101 (Mennenga 28, Davison, Bediako 16, Vasiljevic 15; 4 with 5 rebs; Davison 11 assts) at Spark Arena, Auckland.

Sydney Kings 71 (Davis 20, Cooks 15, Robertson 10; Craig 7 rebs; Davis 9 assts) d Tasmania JackJumpers 68 (Mathias 20, Armstrong 13, Bannan 11; Magnay 14 rebs; Bannan 5 assts) at the Silverdome, Launceston.