'Too late': Goulding buries Breakers with 3-ball barrage

• Chris Goulding hits 6-from-8 from deep in 104-88 win
• Melbourne United remain unbeaten to start NBL26
• Breakers’ Parker Jackson-Cartwright nearly posts triple-double

It's almost unfair how good Chris Goulding is at shooting the basketball. The (7-0) Melbourne United star bombed 6-from-8 threes in the home side's dominant wire-to-wire 104-88 win against the (2-6) New Zealand Breakers at John Cain Arena on a Sunday matinee in Round 5 of NBL26.

Captain Goulding electrified 8,092 fans on 8-from-13 from the field for 23 points in just 18:30 minutes off the bench.

Goulding, 37, has played 56 minutes this season and has scored 61 points ... off the bench!

"It’s really good," Tyson Walker said of playing with Goulding.

"I didn’t know he was that good — I’ll be honest. He draws a lot of eyes, so a lot of lanes open up. You just know if you run the right stuff, you can get him a good shot — it’s probably going in."

United head coach Dean Vickerman said Tanner Krebs and Goulding knocking down shots was key but Walker's ability to find them was also driving Melbourne's unbeaten run.

"Credit to Tanner and Chris for knocking down threes, but Tyson has to find them in those spots," Vickerman said.

"He’s really coming into his own these last few rounds. When teams make runs, Tanner hit some big ones that stretched it back out.

"Tyson’s continuing to grow as he understands the league — what we need from him as a point guard, how to get guys shots. That’s the biggest growth area: when to get Milt involved, when to find CJ, how to feed Jesse.

"He’s a pest defensively, gets his hands on balls — he’s leading our deflection chart — and his pace is a weapon. I want him to keep pushing and putting pressure on defenses in the first six seconds."

Key Details

• Result: Melbourne United 104 def. New Zealand Breakers 88
• When: 19th October 2025
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Chris Goulding (Melbourne United) starred with 23 points, two rebounds, three assists in 18 minutes.
• Izaiah Brockington (New Zealand Breakers) scored 25 points, and had two rebounds, one assist in 31 minutes.

What Happened

Melbourne United established control early, racing to a 28-17 first-quarter advantage and extending their lead to 56-38 by halftime. The home side never trailed, maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout all four quarters despite a third-quarter push from the Breakers that saw them outscore United 25-19.

Captain Chris Goulding led Melbourne's perimeter assault, connecting on six-from-eight from deep in just 18 minutes of court time. His long-range shooting exhibition in the fourth quarter, where he hit three consecutive triples between the eight and six-minute marks, effectively sealed the contest by pushing the lead to 20 points at 87-67.

Tyson Walker delivered a complete performance for United with 16 points, nine assists and four steals, while Tanner Krebs added 17 points on efficient five-from-eight shooting from downtown. Kyle Bowen provided valuable energy off the bench with 13 points on perfect shooting (four-from-four field goals) along with three steals in just 11 minutes.

For the Breakers, Parker Jackson-Cartwright fought valiantly with 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, narrowly missing a triple-double. However, the visitors couldn't overcome Melbourne's superior efficiency, as United shot 52 percent from the field (37-from-71) compared to New Zealand's 45 percent (33-from-73). Melbourne's dominance from beyond the arc proved decisive, connecting on 16-from-34 triples against New Zealand's 12-from-29.

The rebounding battle favoured Melbourne (41-34), with Jesse Edwards grabbing 10 boards despite scoring just five points. Melbourne's bench outscored New Zealand's 46-16, highlighting their superior depth. With this victory, Melbourne continues their strong home form, while New Zealand will need to regroup quickly as they search for consistency in their campaign.