Worthington key to Tigers' win

Tigers star Mark Worthington shrugs off injury to inspire thrilling victory. Picture: Getty Source: Robert Prezioso / Getty Images

MELBOURNE Tigers coach Chris Anstey was told more than once that he should not recruit forward Mark Worthington.

It was never anything personal against the two-time Olympian.

But the two are close friends and there is an old saying you should never mix friendship with business.

Worthington proved to be the exception to the rule yesterday when he shrugged off a slipped disc in his back to inspire the Tigers to a crucial 84-82 win over NZ Breakers.

Knowing his mate and the team needed a spark after three consecutive losses, the big man played like his life to depend on it score a game-high 21 points in 36 minutes.

"People talk about not getting into business with friends and people told me not to recruit him because he's a friend," Anstey said.

"I was brought up that you've always got your mate's back, so I'm going to work my arse off for my friends.

"I think he's the same - I know he's not going to leave anything out on the floor."

Worthington said the result was good reward for hard work following a tough period.

"It was a giant sigh of relief after that one and the boys were great," he said.

"The last two weeks have been a bit sloppy but we could see the end process of our hard work.

"We will all keep putting in the work."

Worthington was well assisted by import guard Mustapha Farrakhan, who produced his best NBL game to date with 20 points, six assists and two steals.

Anstey said his side was due for some luck.

"I know we got a bit down over the last few weeks, but I think we deserved a result like that," he said.

"It didn't feel like we had much luck on top of everything else.

"Today it was nice to feel like we didn't get unlucky."

The Tigers started poorly in recent weeks but they jumped quickly out of the blocks yesterday.

They led by six points at quarter-time but fell away in the second term to trail by four at the main break.

It was a three-point lead to the visitors at the last change.

It immediately became a five-point gap when Bruton made a steal on Farrakhan and laid it off to Gary Wilkinson in the opening play of the final quarter.

But Melbourne would not yield.

They fought back to secure a win they just had to get.

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