Breakers coach Petteri Koponen, in a timeout during a match in August 2025. Photo: LUKAS COCH/PHOTOSPORT
The Breakers are off the bottom of the NBL table - for their meantime - after posting their second win of the season last night.
They beat the Tasmanian Jackjumpers 82-65, with Parker Jackson-Cartright, Izaiah Brockington and Sam Mennenga all hitting double digits.
Jackson-Cartwright finished the top scorer with 21 points, whilst also contributing six assists.
Brockington also chimed in with six rebounds to go with his 17 points.
The win was set up with an 18-0 run either side of the first quarter break, which allowed the Breakers to control the rest of the match.
During this period, Tasmania were kept scoreless for almost six minutes.
"The biggest thing was last game we had 21 turnovers. Today, we took care of the ball (just two turnovers), and we controlled the game," said coach Petteri Koponen.
"We were pretty good defensively and still we didn't shoot the ball well, but we found a way to win the game.
"We had 19 offensive rebounds and everybody who stepped on the floor contributed to a great team effort."
The win will be a relief for the Breakers, who had lost five of their opening six games of the season.
It should also give them belief that they can compete with the best with Tasmania having come to Auckland nestled nicely in the top four.
But it doesn't get any easier for the Breakers, who have a quick turnaround ahead of their next match, against the unbeaten Melbourne United, in Melbourne tomorrow afternoon.
"We got less than 48 hours to play against, let's say, the best team in the league so far, Melbourne," said Kopponen.
"Last time we got destroyed. So, we know the challenge is there. Now it's just time to recover and be ready for another battle on Sunday.
"It's tough for the players, but you know, there is no time to cry, it is what it is."
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