Breakers NBL 2026-27 season

The story so far

The New Zealand Breakers opened the NBL season with a win over the Hawks, with Sam Mennenga scoring 27 points. Their first defeat of the season came 88-85 against the Brisbane Bullets, after they had led early in the match.^{23 Sep} Parker Jackson-Cartwright was a key scorer in the following wins, including a 98-75 home win over Cairns and an 88-72 away win over Adelaide, the club's first road victory of the season, which kept them fourth on the ladder.^{29 Sep; 5 Oct} Mennenga scored a career-high 40 points in a 100-84 loss to Perth, which the shorthanded Breakers played without the injured Jackson-Cartwright.^{11 Oct} The Breakers then came back from a 10-point half-time deficit to beat defending champion Sydney Kings 102-101 in Canberra, moving into first place, but coach Gordy Herbert later criticised officiating after a 98-92 loss to Tasmania in Hobart.^{15, 19 Oct}

Latest

The Breakers most recently lost 86-84 to the Cairns Taipans away, having led for most of the game before being overtaken by three-pointers in the fourth quarter.^{25 Oct}

Key moments

1. 23 SepBreakers suffer first defeat of season, losing 88-85 to Brisbane Bullets.
2. 5 OctBreakers win first road game of season, 88-72 at Adelaide 36ers.
3. 11 OctMennenga scores career-high 40 points in loss to Perth without injured Jackson-Cartwright.
4. 15 OctBreakers overcome 10-point half-time deficit to beat Sydney Kings, moving into first.
5. 19 OctCoach Herbert criticises officiating after 98-92 loss to Tasmania JackJumpers.
6. 25 OctBreakers lose 86-84 to Cairns Taipans after leading most of the game.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.