The New Zealand Breakers opened the Australian NBL season with a thrilling 91-87 win over the Brisbane Bullets.
Led by Kiwi forward Sam Mennenga, the Breakers built a massive 26-point lead in the third quarter, only to see Brisbane fight back in the final minutes. American guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright kept his cool, hitting crucial free throws to secure the victory.
The Breakers started strong, with Mennenga and Jackson-Cartwright dominating early. Despite missing suspended centre Freddie Gillespie, the team’s bench contributed significantly, helping the Breakers lead by 17 at halftime. However, Brisbane mounted a late comeback, narrowing the gap to just two points.
In the end, Jackson-Cartwright’s free throws held off the Bullets’ surge, giving the Breakers’ new coach, Petteri Koponen, his first professional win. The game was a nail-biter, but the Breakers survived to kick off their season with a hard-fought victory.
