Breakers Dominate Hawks 102–60 in Wollongong
The New Zealand Breakers decisively defeated the Illawarra Hawks 102–60 at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Round 7 of NBL26, exposing the Hawks' defensive shortcomings and lack of effort.
Game Overview
One team came prepared while the other did not. The defending champions, the New Zealand Breakers, showcased their strength against an underperforming Illawarra Hawks squad. The Breakers improved their record to 3-7 with this commanding victory.
Coach Petteri Koponen's Reflections
“If I’m honest, no,” Koponen said when asked if he expected such a dominant win. “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 Factors in the Win
- Breakers’ defensive intensity and communication were crucial.
- Consistent performance across all four quarters.
- Effective transition play following defensive stops.
Photo Caption
Sam Mennenga of the Breakers dunks the ball during the match between Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers on October 31, 2025, in Wollongong. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Author's summary: The Breakers’ focused defense and sustained effort led to a decisive win over the Hawks, highlighting their potential when maintaining consistent intensity.