Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright celebrates Photo: Blake Armstrong / PHOTOSPORT
The Breakers have won their first game of the NBL season beating defending champions Illawarra 117-88 in Auckland thanks to a record breaking performance by captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
The Breakers had opened the season with four losses, but the American star was on fire as he dished out 17 assists.
That mark broke the record for most assists in the 40-minute era, surpassing the 15 previously held by Melbourne's Nat Tomlinson in 2013 and Cairns' Tahjere McCall in 2023.
Jackson-Cartwright and Sam Mennenga each had 20 points.
Breakers forward Sam Mennenga Photo: Blake Armstrong / PHOTOSPORT
"It's fun for me to be able to use my advantage, using my speed and get out in the open floor and hitting the paint and playmaking for my team-mates," Jackson-Cartwright said.
"Over the course of my career, I believe that's what I've done really well and this (situation) is no different."
Coach Petteri Koponen said it was good to have a fully fit Jackson-Cartwright back in top form.
"This is the identity we've been looking for," Koponen said.
"(A big part of that) was getting this guy back, this was the first time it seemed like the old Parker with the pace and setting the tone."
The Breakers were hot from three-point distance, knocking down 18.
Meanwhile, the defending champion Hawks are now 0-3 at the start of their season.
The clash also doubled as the teams opening game of the Ignite Cup.
New Zealand won each quarter, giving them the perfect start to the league's new in-season tournament, which has a quarter-by-quarter scoring system and a total prize pool of $400,000.
The Breakers were up by 15 at three-quarter time before going on a run to extend that to 29 by the final whistle.
The 1 and 4 Breakers next take on South East Melbourne on Sunday.
