Tatum 'sorry' after Breakers dunk on Hawks by 42

The New Zealand Breakers overwhelmed the Illawarra Hawks 102–60 in Wollongong, revealing major defensive issues and a lack of effort from the home side. The game took place during Round 7 of NBL26 at WIN Entertainment Centre on October 31, 2025.

Sam Mennenga delivered a powerful dunk that highlighted New Zealand’s dominance throughout the match. The defending champions, Illawarra Hawks, struggled to keep pace as the Breakers executed with energy and precision from the start.

"One team was ready to play and one wasn't," head coach Petteri Koponen said after the game.

Koponen admitted he did not expect such a large margin of victory.

"If I’m honest, no," Koponen revealed. "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."

Defensive Cohesion and Momentum

The Breakers’ defensive focus and teamwork proved decisive. From early on, they dictated the game’s rhythm, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Koponen credited his players’ communication and unity for sustaining their performance over the full 40 minutes.

Game Summary

Score: Breakers 102, Hawks 60
Location: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
Round: 7, NBL26 Season
Key Moment: Mennenga’s dunk symbolized Breakers’ dominance

Author’s summary: The Breakers displayed complete dominance in Wollongong, combining defense, communication, and intensity to dismantle the Hawks 102–60.

Basketball.com.au — 2025-11-01