Breakers' Freddie Gillespie ejected, to face tribunal after suspected headbutt
Updated . First published at
Breakers centre Freddie Gillespie could be forced to sit out his side's NBL season opener next weekend after he was ejected from New Zealand's 90-79 Blitz loss to Sydney on Friday night.
Gillespie was ejected for a suspected headbutt after clashing with Kings' veteran guard Shaun Bruce late in the final quarter.
The incident has been referred to the league's game review panel with Gillespie's start of the season with his new club now in doubt.
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Freddie Gillespie appears to headbutt Shaun Bruce late in the final quarter as the pair clash off the ball. Kayo Sports
During the closing stages of the pre-season match, Gillespie appeared to headbutt Bruce. As a result, the American import received a disqualifying foul with only 1.46 seconds left on the clock and was sent from the floor.
Vision of the act shows Gillespie dip his head and strike Bruce as the pair came together off the ball.
Bruce received medal attention on the Kings' bench after the hit drew blood.
Should the panel decide to suspend Gillespie for the act, he faces missing the team's round one match against the Brisbane Bullets in Perth on Saturday.
The Breaks' final pre-season hit out could not have ended on worse terms after the team threw away a 65-62 lead at the three-quarter break.
The side also led 44-40 at half time but faded away in the final term as title favourites, the Kings, won the last term 28-14.
Freddie Gillespie is ejected during the 2024 NBL Blitz match between the Sydney Kings and the New Zealand Breakers. Chris Hyde via Getty Images
Breakers import guard Matt Mooney led the team with 25 points, eight assists and two steals. This included pouring 11 of his 16 shots with three from seven from beyond the arc.
Emerging Kings star Alex Toohey continued his hot form adding 24 points while Cam Oliver put in 21.
The result at the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre wrapped up a winless pre-season tournament for the Breakers, who slumped to 0-5 — with three defeats coming at the hands of the Kinds.
Gillespie played two seasons in the NBA with Toronto and Orlando between 2020 and 2022.
The Breakers kick off their season against the Bullets at 6pm AEST on Saturday at Auckland's Spark Arena.
