Breakers Dominate Hawks 102–60 in NBL26 Round 7
The New Zealand Breakers crushed the Illawarra Hawks 102–60 at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, revealing serious defensive breakdowns and lack of effort from the Hawks.
Game Overview
The Breakers displayed full readiness and dominance, leaving the defending champions Illawarra Hawks struggling throughout the match. The comprehensive 42-point win highlighted Illawarra’s effort issues and defensive collapse.
Coaches’ Comments
“If I’m honest, no,” said Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen when asked if he expected such a dominant victory. “But you know, we’ve shown these flashes throughout the beginning of the season. We had great, great 20 minutes, 25 minutes — like you said, against Brisbane we dominated the first half. We were up by, what, 24 points? I think that loss hurt everybody. There was pain, and we took that feeling.
Today, the big topic was we need a consistent 40 minutes — and we found that. Especially defensively, we were really connected today. When we get stops, we get to the open court, and we’re a pretty good team. But everything started on the defensive end — guys were communicating, being there, helping each other.”
Key Moments
- Sam Mennenga’s dunk was a highlight during the match, showcasing the Breakers’ offensive strength.
- The Breakers’ strong defense fueled their transition offense and consistent scoring runs.
- Illawarra Hawks struggled to maintain effort and cohesion, which was evident in their defensive lapses.
Photo Credit
Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images captures Sam Mennenga dunking during the game on October 31, 2025.
Summary: The New Zealand Breakers outplayed the Illawarra Hawks by 42 points thanks to a strong defense and consistent effort, marking a significant performance in NBL26’s Round 7.
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