'Sam I am': Mennenga magic powers Breakers

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The New Breakers were playing for pride and the Taipans for the final siren on an NBL26 season that failed to launch – again.

It followed the script as the Breakers crushed Cairns 115-84 in round 22 on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Auckland.

"Proud of the group," Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen said.

"We talked about wanting to finish the right way in front of our home fans. We knew if we played great defence for all 40 minutes, we were going to enjoy it offensively as well. I think everybody did their part. We played with energy, our activity was great tonight, and it wore them down.

"In the first half we finished with a 20–6 run and kind of got that break, but it started on the defensive end. They’ve got talent, they can score the ball, but we kept working all 40 minutes. Just proud of the group — everybody gave good minutes. This is the right way to finish the season in front of our fans.

"At the same time, we know we’ve got a massive opportunity on Sunday to make history and try to win something this season, which is really big for us. We go there and try to surprise Adelaide."

Breakers star Sam Mennenga return from a fractured wrist against Adelaide on January 23 provided the perfect catalyst for New Zealand's emphatic season finale.

Originally expected to miss the remainder of NBL26, Mennenga was absolutely on fire from the opening tip, scoring the Breakers' first eight points and finishing an outstanding 15-from-19 from the field. The dominant display included nine rebounds and three assists as he tormented his former team throughout the 31-point blowout.

Mexican-born NBL Next Star Karim Lopez, projected as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, returned from his own leg injury to contribute 15 points, six rebounds and two assists in 25 efficient minutes.

Carlin Davison continued his emergence as a key contributor with an impressive double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, adding three assists in a well-rounded display. The athletic forward was particularly explosive in the second quarter, pouring in 11 points including a thunderous slam dunk that energised the home crowd.

Veteran centre Rob Loe provided solid interior presence with 11 points, four boards and two swats, demonstrating the depth that makes this Breakers squad so dangerous heading into finals basketball.

"I’m trying to sugarcoat it, but the reality is we went up against a Breakers team that were playing for pride in front of their home fans," Forde said.

"Maybe after the midway point of the second we tried to go on a little mini run. We had some good looks that didn’t drop.

"Then New Zealand went on a run and we had no timeouts to obviously call when they were on that 22–10 run in the back end of the five minutes of the second. And then it was just us going through the motions.

"Like, I can sit here and say we tried to do this or that — the reality is we were going through the motions. New Zealand were giving the fans something to cheer about and we were just waiting for the siren to sound."

For Cairns, the defeat capped a challenging NBL26 season finishing a disappointing 9-24. Point guard Andrew Andrews battled his way to 24 points and seven assists, while Kody Stattmann's 20 points and five rebounds but veteran forward Jack McVeigh endured a frustrating finale, managing just six points on poor 3-from-11 shooting.

Key Details

• Result: New Zealand Breakers 115 def. Cairns Taipans 84
• When: Wednesday, 19th February 2026
• Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
• Attendance: 1,791
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) starred with 32 points, nine rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes.
• Andrew Andrews (Cairns Taipans) scored 24 points and had seven assists and two rebounds in 30 minutes.

What Happened

The Breakers established early control and never relinquished their grip, leading for over 33 minutes of the contest compared to Cairns' meager four and a half minutes. New Zealand opened with a solid 24-24 first quarter before exploding in the second period, outscoring the Taipans 37-20 to take a commanding 61-44 halftime advantage. The visitors maintained their intensity through the third quarter, extending their lead to 88-66, before cruising through the final period with a 27-18 scoring edge to complete the rout.

Sam Mennenga was simply on fire for the Breakers, connecting on an outstanding 15-from-19 attempts from the field for a remarkable 78.95% shooting display. His dominance in the paint was complemented by Parker Jackson-Cartwright's masterful playmaking, as the captain dished out 13 assists while contributing 19 points on efficient 9-from-16 shooting. Carlin Davison provided excellent support off the bench, recording a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards in just 20 minutes of action.

For Cairns, Andrew Andrews battled valiantly with his team-high 24 points, including a perfect 8-from-9 performance from the charity stripe. Kody Stattmann added 20 points with solid shooting from downtown, connecting on 4-from-7 triples, but the Taipans lacked the offensive firepower to match New Zealand's balanced attack. Captain Jack McVeigh struggled with his shot, managing just 6 points on a disappointing 3-from-11 shooting display.

The statistical disparity told the story of the contest. New Zealand's superior shooting was the defining factor, as they connected on 57% of their field goal attempts compared to Cairns' poor 40.58% clip. The Breakers also dominated from beyond the arc despite attempting fewer threes, shooting a solid 44.44% compared to the Taipans' dismal 25% from deep. New Zealand's interior presence was evident in their rebounding advantage, claiming 48 boards to Cairns' 36, with the home side particularly effective on the offensive glass.

This comprehensive victory demonstrated New Zealand's championship credentials as they controlled every facet of the game. The Breakers' ability to share the basketball effectively was highlighted by their 27 assists, with multiple players contributing to the scoring effort. Meanwhile, Cairns will need to address their shooting woes and find more consistent offensive production beyond their top scorers if they hope to compete with the league's elite teams.