New Zealand 'Breaks' Illawarra Hawks' title defense

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Wow. It wasn't pretty for long stretches but two teams fighting for the playoffs produced four minutes of must-see basketball down the stretch, trading big shot after big shot.

But it was the New Zealand Breakers who survived, beating the home team 101-96 in a last minute that went for about five minutes.

The window was tight for the Hawks, 8-15, to challenge the 12-13 Tasmania JackJumpers for 6th but now every game is almost a win-or-go-home while the Breakers moved to 9-15 with nine games to play.

Hawks wing Wani Swaka Lo Buluk's three point attempt from the left baseline was all the way in before rimming out with about 16 seconds to go. It would have put the Hawks up 97-95. Instead, the Breakers came up with the ball and Parker Jackson-Cartwright was fouled and he made two clutch free throws to make it 97-94.

Hawks head coach Justin Tatum drew up a play for Tyler Harvey who got into the lane with 9 seconds left to finish a floater to make it 97-96.

Harvey almost stole the inbounds after the time out but fouled Izaiah Brockington, who stepped up and made both: 99-96 with 8.9 seconds left.

Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen opted to foul but on the next inbounds, the Hawks turned the ball over on a backcourt violation by Harvey with 7.4 seconds left.

Tatum said: "I think they just wanted more. I just think they wanted more. It’s unfortunate that my team doesn’t show the same resilience against anyone. Not just New Zealand, but anyone who has a chance to find a way to beat us in certain areas.

"I just think they come out and want it more. I don’t think they’re overly more talented or made more shots. They just try to find ways to win a game, and that’s what they’ve done.

"That we play well for a spurt or two and then lack of details or attention on the back end, trying to find, unable to get a stop in the most important part of the game. And I felt that having 12 turnovers in the first 15 minutes of the game really doesn’t help as well.

"They’re saying that New Zealand had an edge about themselves just losing to Sydney 36 hours ago, and they came in and showed that they didn’t want to lose to us at home. So I tip my hat off to them."

Key Details

• Result: New Zealand Breakers 101 def. Illawarra Hawks 96
• When: Sunday, 11th January 2026
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
• Attendance: 5,323
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) starred with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes.
• Quentin Peterson (Illawarra Hawks) scored 22 points and had six assists in 23 minutes.

What Happened

The New Zealand Breakers controlled the tempo from the opening tip, establishing an early three-point advantage after the first quarter and never relinquishing their lead. The visitors extended their buffer to six points at half-time, leading 49-43, before the Hawks mounted a spirited third-quarter comeback that brought them within striking distance.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright proved to be the difference-maker for New Zealand, orchestrating the offense with masterful precision. The captain shot an efficient 8-from-16 from the field, including 3-from-5 from downtown, while his court vision created numerous scoring opportunities for teammates. His eight assists were instrumental in the Breakers' balanced offensive attack, which saw four players reach double figures.

The Hawks' fourth-quarter surge nearly turned the contest around, as they outscored the Breakers 30-30 in the final period while desperately trying to overcome their deficit. Quentin Peterson led the charge with an outstanding offensive display, connecting on 9-from-15 field goals, including 3-from-7 from beyond the arc. His 60% shooting efficiency kept the Hawks within reach throughout the closing stages.

Sam Mennenga and Izaiah Brockington provided crucial support for the Breakers, combining for 41 points on excellent shooting performances. Mennenga dominated inside with 21 points on 8-from-13 shooting, while Brockington was deadly from deep, converting 2-from-3 triples as part of his 20-point effort. Rob Baker II added 17 points with four successful three-pointers, showcasing the Breakers' depth and versatility.

The statistical battle told the story of a closely contested affair. The Breakers shot a solid 50.7% from the field compared to the Hawks' exceptional 57.4%, but New Zealand's superior free-throw shooting proved decisive. The visitors converted 21-from-28 attempts from the charity stripe (75%), while Illawarra managed just 9-from-14 (64.3%). New Zealand also dominated the turnover battle, forcing 19 Hawks turnovers while committing just 12 themselves.