Wellington, Jan 24 NZPA - New Zealand Breakers scored their second straight win in the Australian National Basketball League this week with a 95-81 victory over Gold Coast Blaze last night.

The Breakers who broke a losing streak from since before Christmas with a 103-89 win over Adelaide on Thursday, also ended the Blaze's s 10-match unbeaten run at home.

The result kept the Breakers' playoffs hopes alive and put the Auckland side fifth in the table with 11 wins from 24 matches.

Trailing by seven points at halftime, the Breakers, inspired by top-scorer Kevin Braswell (22 points) and guard CJ Bruton (17), rallied, nailing a string of three-pointers from all around the arc.

Heading into the final quarter with a three-point lead, the Breakers continued their run when Braswell hit two unanswered triples early in the piece.

The Breakers' defence lead by Dillon Boucher and Rick Rickert out-muscled the Blaze and coupled with intense defensive pressure Gold Coast could only manage to find the rim in the second half.

The Breakers' next match is away to Townsville on Wednesday.

Scores: New Zealand Breakers 95 (Braswell 22, Bruton 17, Ronaldson 17)

Gold Coast Blaze 81 (Harvey 19, Gibson 17, Maxey 17). Halftime: 44-51.

NZPA WGT pm