PG PJC has 17 ASSISTS in Hawks demolition

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"My name is Parker Jackson-Cartwright and I'm here to help". Obviously PJC didn't say that but his game did against the Illawarra Hawks as he delivered the most amount assists in a single game since 2023 as the Breakers demolished the defending champions 117-88 at Spark Arena in New Zealand.

Jackson-Cartwright, 30, was outstanding. He had 20 points, six boards and 17 ASSISTS in 34 minutes to lead the Breakers to their first win (1-4) of NBL26.

It was a loss the Hawks (0-3) didn't need.

"What I’m feeling — wish my team would’ve given a better effort," 2025 NBL Coach of the Year Justin Tatum said in the post game press conference.

"I tip my hat off to New Zealand — they shot the ball well, they were prepared to play. 0–4, backs against the wall, they did an exceptional job.

"My guys — we’re figuring it out. As we figure it out, we’re going through some adversity right now.

"We’re going through some adversity right now. I’m cool with it, but we’ve got to get back to the drawing board. Brisbane on Saturday."

Hawks forward Mason Peatling, who had 14 points and six rebounds, was confident Illawarra had the players to compete but: "What we’re doing right now clearly isn’t good enough.

"We’re confident that we have everyone we need — but in saying that, we have a lot of work to do.

"There’s been a lot of change from last year. We’re still down some bodies, but what we’re doing right now clearly isn’t good enough.

"We need to get back to winning habits and playing a brand that we can be proud of, night in and night out — win or loss. Then the results should take care of themselves."

Jackson-Cartwright eclipsed the 15 assists Melbourne's Nate Tomlinson has in 2013 and Cairns' Tahjere McCall in 2023. NBL legend Derek Rucker holds the record with 24 assists in the 48-minute era.

Key Details

• Result: New Zealand Breakers 117 def. Illawarra Hawks 88
• When: Wednesday, 8th October 2025
• Where: Spark Arena, Auckland

By the Numbers

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (Breakers) starred with 20 points, six rebounds, 17 assists and two steals in 34 minutes.
• Tyler Harvey (Hawks) scored 22 points, had one rebound, and six assists in 33 minutes.

What Happened

The Breakers established dominance early, taking a 30-24 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 60-49 by halftime. New Zealand maintained control throughout, with their lead growing steadily as the game progressed.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright orchestrated the Breakers' offense with precision, recording a stunning triple-double performance. His 17 assists showcased exceptional court vision, consistently finding teammates for open looks. The Breakers capitalised by shooting an impressive 48 percent from the field.

New Zealand's three-point shooting proved decisive, connecting on 18-from-41 attempts (44 percent) compared to Illawarra's 8-from-31 (26 percent). This 30-point advantage from beyond the arc gave the home team an insurmountable edge.

The Breakers dominated the glass with 44 rebounds to Illawarra's 36, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to valuable second-chance opportunities. Their ball movement was exceptional, recording 31 assists compared to the Hawks' 20, demonstrating the cohesive team play that fuelled their offensive explosion.

The fourth quarter proved particularly one-sided as New Zealand outscored Illawarra 30-16, pushing their lead to a game-high 31 points. JaVale McGee provided some resistance for the Hawks with 19 points and three blocks, but his efforts couldn't stem the Breakers' offensive onslaught. With this commanding victory, New Zealand makes a statement to begin their NBL campaign.