Breakers Fall to Wildcats 99-91, Undermining Finals Aspirations

The New Zealand Breakers faced a setback in their playoff ambitions after suffering a 99-91 defeat against the Perth Wildcats at Spark Arena in Auckland on January 5, 2024. With this loss, the Breakers now occupy eighth place in the NBL standings, holding a record of eight wins and 14 losses. They are currently three victories behind the Tasmania JackJumpers, who sit in sixth place, the last playoff spot, with 11 games remaining in the season.

Returning home for the first time since December 6, the Breakers were eager to build on their previous victory against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Boxing Day. However, they found themselves playing catch-up throughout the match. The Wildcats, while never able to completely distance themselves, consistently responded to the Breakers’ challenges, notably scoring 32 points in the third quarter, which propelled them to an eventual eight-point victory.

Kristian Doolittle led the scoring for Perth with 21 points, complemented by three rebounds and three assists. Joining him were Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, who contributed 20 points and six rebounds, and Dylan Windler, who added 17 points and secured 10 rebounds. The Wildcats, who improved to a record of 13 wins and 10 losses (9-4 away), displayed their offensive prowess by shooting 56 percent from the field and hitting 10 of 21 attempts from three-point range.

Despite trailing by double digits at one point in the third quarter, the Breakers briefly took the lead in the fourth. However, a period of defensive pressure from the Wildcats halted their momentum, during which the Breakers missed 10 consecutive shots. Head coach Petteri Koponen acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings, stating, “It was crazy to have a chance tonight. How we were not able to play defence and how they shot the ball… They were on tonight and you have to give credit to them.”

The Breakers’ top scorer was Sam Mennenga, who posted 19 points along with three rebounds. Carlin Davison added 14 points and two steals, while Tai Webster, facing his former team for the first time, recorded eight points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Looking ahead, the Breakers will remain at home to face the Sydney Kings on January 12, while the Wildcats will travel to Melbourne to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix on January 13. Koponen highlighted the challenging nature of the upcoming match, stating, “Sydney is going to give us a great challenge with how they play defence, with their physicality. They have one of the best defences in the league.”

As the New Zealand Breakers continue their quest for a playoff position, they will need to address their defensive issues and find a way to enhance their performance in the coming matches.