Box Score: London Cavaliers 93-90 MK Breakers
The MK Breakers fell 93-90 to London Cavaliers in their opening game of 2025. 19 missed free throws would prove costly for the Breakers who fall to 5-5 on the NBL Division 1 league season.
Blayne Freckleton would open the scoring with a 3 pointer before scores inside from Adrian Scarborough and Troy McIndoe gave the Breakers and early 2-7 lead. The Cavaliers would find their footing in the game thanks to 8 early points from Timi Tolu Ogunkoya to take a 14-10 lead. The teams would continue to trade baskets in a closely contested first quarter, Kai Walker’s lay-up reduced the deficit to 1 as the Breakers trailed 21-20 after 10 minutes.
The Breakers would once again open the quarter with a 3 pointer, this time from Nate Robinson. Former two-time BBL MVP Justin Robinson would respond with a 3 pointer of his own to keep the hosts noses in front at 24-23. The teams continued to go blow for blow in the second quarter as KJ Johnson and Scarborough attacked the basket with great success, but the hosts kept the scoreboard ticking over with a balanced scoring effort. The Breakers found themselves trailing 44-40 at half time, having missed 16 first half free throws.
Tickets: MK Breakers vs London Cavaliers 11th January
Back-to-back scores from Johnson to open the second half, and a layup from Scarborough were sandwiched by a pair of Cavaliers 3 pointers, the first from Ed Lucas and the latter from AJ Roberts to keep the hosts lead at 4, 50-46. A resurgent Breakers team would rally however, behind the inspired play of Chris Tawiah. Tawiah’s dunk would give the Beakers a 60-61 lead, forcing Cavaliers coach Nigel Lloyd into a timeout. The Cavaliers responded out of the timeout, closing the quarter out with a 9-0 run to take a 69-61 lead into the final 10 minutes.
The visitors would rally once again, opening the final period on a 14-3 run, capped by a Freckleton 3 pointer to take a 72-75 lead. Justin Robinson responded with s 3 of his own for the hosts before Nate Robinson hit another for the Breakers. Ed Lucas would then respond with another 3 pointer to level the scores at 78. A frantic final few minutes saw the Breakers trail 91-87 with 13 seconds to play. A Nate Robinson 3 pointer kept the game alive with 10 seconds to go, but Ed Lucas calmly sank two free throws on the ensuing possession to put the hosts up 93-90. KJ Johnson’s half court heave fell short at the buzzer and the Breakers slipped to 5-5 in the league.
Nate Robinson led the Breakers in scoring with 19 points, he was joined in double figures by Adrian Scarborough (18), KJ Johnson (17) and Chris Tawiah (11). For the Cavaliers, AJ Roberts and Justin Robinson scored 19 points apiece, whilst Ed Lucas (16) and John Fairbarn (10) also reached double digits.
The Breakers have the chance to exact revenge on the Cavaliers when they host them this Saturday at Bletchley Leisure Centre, 5pm tip off. Tickets available HERE.
