Best supporting role: Breakers shine beyond PJC

Parker Jackson Cartwright was the second half match winner for the New Zealand Breakers, but emerging star Karim Lopez and key role players Sean Bairstow and Rob Loe all stepped up in a crucial win over the Sydney Kings.

With Sam Mennenga, Izayah Le'Afa, Taylor Britt and Carlin Davison all playing for the Tall Blacks against the Boomers, and with the second of those games in Wellington only on Monday night, it wasn’t ideal preparation for the Breakers heading into Wednesday’s clash in Hamilton.

They then lost Le'Afa to a fractured foot, and the back court stocks were thin in the first half with Jackson Cartwright in foul trouble and injury replacement Tai Webster not yet available.

That is where Bairstow and Lopez delivered, keeping the Breakers steady before Jackson Cartwright stole the show. He poured in 21 of his 24 points in the final 20 minutes to seal a 95 to 90 win.

The result all but guaranteed a place in the Ignite Cup by Disney+ Final on the Gold Coast on February 22. Coach Petteri Koponen was thrilled with the all round effort, especially with veteran centre Rob Loe finishing a +14 in only 14 minutes.

"I'm really proud of everybody, everybody who stepped onto the court played with effort and our bench was really good today," Koponen said.

"Sean Bairstow did great job, Rob Loe was really good and gave good minutes, and it was a great win like it is any time you beat Sydney, but we can't be satisfied, we keep working and have another game Saturday.

"Obviously Parker in the first half had a little bit of foul trouble and was resting, but in the second half he took over and won us the game with an unbelievable performance."

The victory, in what Jackson Cartwright labelled a 'playoff like atmosphere', solidified top spot on the Ignite Cup ladder for Koponen's side, with just one in-season tournament game remaining for the Breakers.

Star point Jackson Cartwright explained the victory, just their sixth of the season, highlighted the growth of his squad during the 2025 26 campaign.

"We know how important these games are," Jackson Cartwright said.

"Every time you play a good team like Sydney, you have to be extremely focused. I thought tonight, even though we turned the ball over and we missed some box outs, we kept fighting. We went down, we were up, but we didn't waver, we just kept competing.

"That's a big testament to how we've grown from the start of the season."

The Breakers will look to build on this victory when they host Tasmania on Saturday from 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.