Source: Radio New Zealand
Sam Mennenga top scored for the Breakers with 28 points, in their 104-86 win over Cairns on January 17th 2026. © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
The New Zealand Breakers NBL season’s still alive after beating the Cairns Taipans 104-86 in their latest match.
The win was their second in a row, and was largely built on a dominant performance from Sam Mennenga, who finished with 28 points and five rebounds.
The team now has a 10-15 record, and remains in touch with the top six.
The Breakers started strongly to lead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter, and even though the Taipans piled in 30 points in the second quarter, the Breakers weren’t rattled, as they still managed to lead at the half 55-51.
They then pushed out to a double figure lead in the third term with a run of nine straight points which set them on the path to the 18-point win.
Other strong contributors for the Breakers were Izaiah Brockington who scored 24 points while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, 10 assists and five steals, and Next Star Karim Lopez 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The game also featured Cairns coach Adam Forde being ejected, left fuming and baffled all season long about the lack of calls point guard Andrew Andrews has been getting.
That all spilled over midway through the second quarter, with another no-call when Andrews took a hit to his head.
Forde let his feelings be known to the officials and he was sent packing.
Tall Blacks guard Mojave King had a strong game for the Taipans, finishing with 19 points.
The Breakers will now attempt to chase down the sixth placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13) with their next match on Wednesday, at South East Melbourne.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
