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Beachside blowout: Breakers dismantle Bullets in Ignite Cup
Karim Lopez of the Breakers drives to the basket during the round nine NBL match between Brisbane Bullets and New Zealand Breakers at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre, on November 12, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images
Highlights
Star Bullets import Casey Prather left the game with an apparent knee injury in the loss
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The New Zealand Breakers have put an absolute beatdown on the Brisbane Bullets, scoring a whopping 41 points in the second quarter on their way to a 113-84 Ignite Cup win at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
All five Breakers starters scored in double figures, led by dominant big man Sam Mennenga who made his clash with Bullets centre Tyrell Harrison look like a mismatch all night long, scoring 25 points to take out Player of the Game honours.
To make the night even worse for the Bullets, star import Casey Prather, who has been in MVP contending form, left the game with what looked like a serious knee injury early in the fourth quarter. Prather appeared to have injured his knee after landing on a layup attempt with his team trailing by more than 30 points.
Despite coming off a nail-biting two-point road win over the Tasmania JackJumpers last round, Brisbane looked flat, like they were playing late on a school night and had to catch the early bus in the morning. Not even some full court pressure from skipper Mitch Norton could spark any fight in a Bullets side which resembles Jeckyll and Hyde more than anything this season.
Like he has almost every time in Brisbane, Parker Jackson-Cartwright caused all types of problems early on for the Brisbane defence, who had no answers, while Mennenga all but put two hands on a starting spot for the Tall Blacks after taking it to countrymen Harrison from the opening tip.
The Breakers enjoyed a 27-18 lead at quarter-time but their real dominance came in the second quarter, suffocating the Bullets stagnant offence which lacked any penetration, while pushing the ball at pace down the other end and attacking the paint at will. New Zealand had 41 points to Brisbane's 18 in the second quarter, putting an already lacklustre crowd on the Gold Coast to an early bedtime.
Norton, Prather and Mathias showed some fight in the second half but that Breakers train was already full steam ahead and too tough to stop.
The last two quarters were evenly fought but theBreakers knew they already landed the knockout blow and built on their recent impressive form, which also included a close loss to the Kings in Sydney.
Brisbane now face an even tougher road ahead to feature in the NBL's top six with Prather possibly facing a stint on the sidelines, Sam McDaniel already injured and import point guard Jaylen Adams getting a paid holiday in southeast Queensland.
The Bullets take on Melbourne United on Saturday while the Breakers travel to RAC Arena to take on the Wildcats.
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