Mennenga seals Breakers’ dramatic Ignite triumph

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Parker Jackson-Cartwright hit a $300,00 rainbow dagger three with 1:35 to go, propelling the New Zealander Breakers to a stunning Ignite Cup win against the once NBL26 league-leaders Adelaide 36ers 110-107 on the Gold Coast on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

The 36ers had multiple opportunities to stay in it down the stretch, but simply couldn't put the ball in the bucket in a key stretch between the two-minute and 30-second mark.

PJC was elite, finishing with 29 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes to lead the Breakers to the first Ignite Cup title.

But it wasn't without tension, as PJC inexplicably fouled Bryce Cotton on a three-ball with 12 seconds left to make it 107-104.

Breakers star Sam Mennenga was fouled with 11.2 seconds left and calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to push it to five.

NBL colour commentator Damon Lowery said: "These are $300,000 free throws."

Foolishly again, Izaiah Brockington fouled Zylan Cheatham on a broken play three with 7.5 seconds left.

Cheatham made all three to bring it back to 107-109. Two fouls on three-point attempts gifted the 36ers six points at the line.

On the inbound, New Zealand almost turned it over before Flynn Cameron had to foul Mennenga.

Clutch Mennenga knocked down both to end it with 4.3 seconds left.

"No, I mean, it’s incredible," Jackson-Cartwright said.

"You know, we really fought. That’s a great team. Credit to Adelaide, but you know, we made good plays at the end to get that dub.

"We earned that. That was a 40-minute battle, and we’re going home with it, so we’re proud of ourselves.

"I just want to celebrate with the squad. I mean, tonight’s gonna be great for us, just being around each other and enjoying this with our fans and just around, being around each other."

Key Details

• Result: New Zealand Breakers 111 def. Adelaide 36ers 107
• When: Sunday, 22nd February 2026
• Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Gold Coast

By the Numbers

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) starred with 29 points, three rebounds, and five assists in 36 minutes.
• Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) scored 34 points, had three rebounds and nine assists in 40 minutes.

What Happened

The Breakers established early control with a strong opening quarter, outscoring Adelaide 28-25. However, the 36ers responded emphatically in the second period, dominating 29-19 to take a 54-47 halftime lead. The third quarter belonged to New Zealand as they exploded for 34 points while limiting Adelaide to 28, seizing an 81-82 advantage heading into the final period.

With 26 lead changes throughout the contest, neither team could establish sustained control until the closing stages. The Breakers' superior three-point shooting proved decisive, connecting on 12 triples at 52% compared to Adelaide's disappointing eight makes from 29 attempts at just 28%. This outside shooting differential ultimately swung the contest in New Zealand's favour.

Jackson-Cartwright was outstanding for the Breakers, shooting an efficient 11-for-20 from the field, including 3-for-5 from downtown. His ability to create scoring opportunities was complemented by Sam Mennenga's 21 points and Izaiah Brockington's 21-point contribution. The trio combined for 71 of New Zealand's 111 points, showcasing the Breakers' balanced offensive attack.

Despite the loss, Cotton delivered an exceptional individual performance for Adelaide, pouring in a game-high 34 points on 9-for-18 shooting. His nine assists demonstrated his dual threat as both scorer and playmaker. Zylan Cheatham provided valuable support with 21 points on outstanding 6-from-9 shooting, while Nick Rakocevic was dominant in the paint with 21 points on 8-from-10 shooting and 11 boards.

The Breakers' defensive effort in the paint was solid, recording eight blocks compared to Adelaide's seven. New Zealand also capitalised better from the charity stripe, converting 21-from-28 free throws at 75% while Adelaide managed 27-from-34 at 79%. The narrow four-point victory showcased both teams' competitive spirit in an enthralling NBL encounter with playoff implications for both sides.

Adelaide 36ers 54 – 47 New Zealand Breakers (Half-Time)

Adelaide led by seven at the main break after shooting a clinical 64.5 per cent from the field and closing the second quarter with control at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on February 22, 2026.

The 36ers won the opening term 25–19 before edging the second 29–28 in a half that featured 11 lead changes. Their efficiency was the separator – 20-from-31 overall and 10-of-14 at the line – compared to the Breakers’ 20-from-35 and just four free-throw attempts.

Bryce Cotton set the tempo with 17 points in 20 minutes, shooting 6-for-9 from the field, 2-for-4 from three and 3-of-4 from the stripe. He also added seven assists, directly influencing Adelaide’s 11 team assists.

Zylan Cheatham was perfect from the field with 15 points on 5-for5 shooting and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, while Nick Rakocevic provided 10 points in under nine minutes off the bench.

For New Zealand, Karim Lopez had nine points and six rebounds, Reuben Te Rangi scored 10, and the Breakers held a 16–11 rebounding edge. However, seven turnovers and limited trips to the line blunted their momentum.

Adelaide spent 10:11 in front and produced the biggest scoring run of the half at 11–0, taking a 54–47 advantage into the break.