New Zealand Breakers ride hot streak into playoffs contention with win over Tasmania Jackjumpers

Parker Jackson-Cartwright had a double-double in the New Zealand Breakers' win over the Tasmania Jackjumpers. Photo / Getty Images

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The New Zealand Breakers climbed into playoffs contention with a 99-86 win over the Tasmania Jackjumpers at Spark Arena, making it three wins on the bounce – and four from the last five outings.

The victory, the 350th in the club’s history, lifts the Breakers into sixth spot on the Australian NBL ladder with a 7-10 record.

The wizard of Spark Arena, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, was again bringing the magic, with his deep three-pointer with 1m 40s to play stifling a late Tasmania charge. The Breakers point guard finished with 16 points and 12 assists for his fourth double-double of the season.

Fellow American imports Izaiah Brockington and Rob Baker II also delivered the goods, Brockington scoring 22 points and Baker 18.

While hindered by foul trouble, the other starters, Kiwi Sam Mennenga and Mexican Karim López, tallied 16 and 15 points respectively.

Tai Webster, the freshly signed returnee from Europe, provided some valuable minutes for five points and a couple of rebounds, in a promising first showing since the 30-year-old Aucklander linked back up with the club earlier in the week.

Jackjumpers import guard Bryce Hamilton led the way for the Tasmanian side with 21 points. Their skipper Will Magnay scored 18 and there were also double-figure efforts from Josh Bannan (12), Majok Deng (11) and David Johnson (10).

The Breakers won the rebounding count 45-38 and shot the three-ball at a better clip – 34% (10/29) to Tasmania’s 27% (10/37).

The Breakers came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt and scored the first nine points of the game. A Mennenga two-handed slam made the highlight reel, which he soon repeated. Back in Breakers black for his first time since 2021, Webster scored with his first attempt, pushing the Breakers ahead 28-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The Jackjumpers started the second quarter with a stronger effort to trim the Breakers’ lead to two points midway through the period, before Baker made a trio of threes to give the hosts a 52-41 halftime lead. Less favourable for the hosts were the three fouls picked up by both Mennenga and López.

Ten straight points from Bannan kept Tasmania in the hunt, but the return of Mennenga and López from the bench brought some steel to the Breakers.

Hamilton peeled off a couple of long-range jump shots and with a quarter to play, the 2023 champions were within 10 points.

The fourth quarter opened as a tense, basket-for-basket affair until Jackson-Cartwright seized control. The lightning-quick guard snatched a steal and raced away for a transition lay-up, shattering the deadlock and blowing the lead out to a commanding 12 points with 5m 22s on the clock.

Hamilton tried to keep the visitors in touch, but Brockington slammed the door shut with a triple and a relentless put-back, pushing the Breakers out to a 93-80 advantage with three minutes to play.

Tasmanian Boomer Magnay trimmed the Breakers’ lead to single figures, but Jackson-Cartwright made the settling three and López added the icing with another long-range effort.

The Breakers now hit the road in Australia and won’t be sighted at home until January 4. Their tour of duty in Australia is a quartet of games beginning with South East Melbourne Phoenix on December 13. Visits to Cairns Taipans (December 19), Brisbane Bullets (December 22) and Tasmania (December 26) follow.

Fans will be excited to see them return to Spark Arena to host Perth Wildcats. With the recent move up the standings, fans will be there to back them drive for a playoffs spot.

Breakers 99 (Izaiah Brockington 22 points, Rob Baker II 18, Sam Mennenga 16, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 16 and 12 assists, Karim López 15).

Tasmania Jackjumpers 86 (Bryce Hamilton 21 points, Will Magnay 18, Josh Bannan 12, Majok Deng 11, David Johnson 10).