17 November 2008 - The NZ Breakers returned home yesterday with a 3 game - 3 win record from their road trip and with it, a new found respect across the Tasman.

They return home not to any complacency however, but the anticipation of a clash against the table topping South Melbourne Dragons coached by the NBL's most successful coach and current Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.

The wins were over the defending champion Melbourne Tigers, Cairns Taipans and the Townsville Crocodiles. Each was achieved in contrasting style but each was based upon a strong defensive effort against quality opponents.

Looming large this week however is the visit to the North Shore of league leading South Melbourne Dragons, a team revitalized under the coaching of Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.

New recruits Mark Worthington and former Breaker Mika Vukona have been amongst a number of players delivering great numbers in a 10-2 season so far and will be the biggest test of the season this Thursday at the North Shore Events Centre.

The Breakers home record against the Dragons is 2 wins, 1 loss but this is a new look side, with just Joe Ingles, Matt Burston and Nathan Herbert likely returnees from last season.

TOWNSVILLE CROCODILES TAMED The road trip was rounded out on Saturday night with a gutsy 119 - 108 win over Townsville, a game that provided some notable numbers.

Once again KIRK PENNEY led the scoring with 34 points in Townsville, the 4th time this season he has scored 30 or more points. RICK RICKERT put up his best numbers of the season adding 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots to 26 points

The Breakers shot a season high 57% (43 from 75) from the field including 17 from 34 three pointers. This was their 5th consecutive away win and has already equaled the 5 regular season away victories achieved last season.

CENTURY UP FOR BEHRENDORFF AGAINST DRAGONS In his 4th season with the club, centre TIM BEHRENDORFF plays his 100th Breakers game against South Dragons. He becomes just the 4th player to reach this milestone for the club following Paul Henare (168 appearances) Aaron Olson (130) and Mika Vukona (108). Behrendorff has scored 340 points, is 6th on the club all time offensive rebounds list and 6th in the all time blocked shots category.

CJ BRUTON plays his 350th ANBL game.

DILLON BOUCHER needs 3 assists for 500 in the ANBL.

OSCAR FORMAN requires 8 rebounds to become just the 4th Breaker to pull down 400 boards for the club.

TONY RONALDSON requires 9 points to become the 6th player in the league to score 9,600 points. A further 31 points will take him past Mark Bradtke's 9621 points to become the 5th highest scorer all time in the ANBL.