Breakers Finally Fire to Dominate JackJumpers in Auckland

The New Zealand Breakers finally found their rhythm in NBL26, breaking out of a slump with a commanding 82–65 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena on Friday night.

After a sluggish 1–5 start to the season, the Breakers looked every bit a side determined to make a statement. They wiped out an early deficit with an 18–0 burst across the first and second quarters, then never looked back as they controlled tempo, effort, and intensity on both ends of the floor.

Tasmania, who had won four of their first six games — five of those on the road — started strongly to lead 14–6 midway through the first term. But once New Zealand locked in defensively, the game completely flipped. The Breakers outscored the visitors 76–51 the rest of the way, holding them scoreless for nearly six minutes in the second quarter.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright was electric, leading the way with 21 points and six assists while relentlessly pushing the pace. Fellow import Izaiah Brockington answered his critics with his most confident outing of the season, adding 17 points and six rebounds.

Inside, Sam Mennenga set the tone with 12 points and eight boards, while Next Star Karim Lopez battled hard for nine points and seven rebounds. New Zealand’s frontcourt dominance was reflected in the numbers: 19 offensive rebounds, just two turnovers, and 25 more shot attempts than Tasmania.

Even though the Breakers went just 2-of-26 from beyond the arc, their physicality and hustle more than compensated. They crashed the boards, forced eight turnovers before halftime, and made the JackJumpers work for every look.

Tasmania’s offence never clicked. The JackJumpers shot just 39 per cent from the floor and 5-of-19 from three. Captain Will Magnay fought valiantly with 14 points and 12 rebounds, Bryce Hamilton added 13 and five, while Ben Ayre hit three triples in the final term to finish with 11 before fouling out. Josh Bannan also chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.

New Zealand’s energy and depth overwhelmed Tasmania throughout the middle stages. After trailing by two at quarter-time, the Breakers erupted in the second with 12 unanswered points from Jackson-Cartwright, Mennenga, and Carlin Davison to seize control. Their lead stretched to 21 by the end of the third, and even as the JackJumpers rallied late, the result was never in doubt.

For coach Petteri Koponen, it was a win full of positives — defensive grit, second-chance scoring, and a collective commitment to turning effort into momentum.

The Breakers improve to 2–5 and finally lift off the bottom of the ladder ahead of a tough Sunday road trip to face the unbeaten Melbourne United. The JackJumpers, now 4–3, will get a nine-day break before visiting the Sydney Kings next Sunday.

Final score: New Zealand Breakers 82 defeated Tasmania JackJumpers 65.