Game Preview: Hawks vs Breakers | RD16 NBL26

‍High-Stakes Sunday: Hawks Ready for "Do or Die" Clash at the Sandpit

The margin for error has officially vanished. As we move into the final quarter of the NBL26 regular season, the Illawarra Hawks return to the WIN Entertainment Centre for a high-stakes Sunday afternoon clash. Coming off a grueling overtime loss in Melbourne on Thursday—a game that featured an NBL-record 56 lead changes—the Hawks must now find the legs to defend home court against a New Zealand side that has had our number all season.

The ladder doesn't lie: both the Breakers and the Hawks sit at 8–14 (prior to New Zealand's Friday night fixture). This is a "do or die" scenario. The Breakers have utilised their superior speed to dismantle us twice already this year, and if we want to stay in touch with the Top 6, that ends Sunday.

The Matchup: Breaking the 0–2 Duck

The season series has been one-way traffic so far, with the Breakers' transition game proving too much for the Hawks to contain.

• Oct 8 @ Spark Arena: Breakers dominated 117–88.
• Oct 31 @ WIN Entertainment Centre: A 42-point blowout loss (102–60) marked a historic loss for the Hawks at home.
• The Challenge: The Breakers’ speed has been our kryptonite. We have been outscored by a combined 71 points across two games; Sunday is about pride and tactical adjustments.

Scouting the New Zealand Breakers

• Parker Jackson-Cartwright: The primary speed threat. Averaging 17.0 PPG and 7.7 APG, he has been the architect of the Breakers' wins over the Hawks this season.
• Sam Mennenga: A consistent interior presence, leading their rebounding at 7.0 RPG while chipping in 16.4 PPG.
• Karim Lopez: A versatile Next Star who leads them in blocks (1.0 BPG) and contributes over 10 points per game.
• Izaiah Brockington: Provides reliable scoring at 14.2 PPG.

Hawks Keys to Victory

• Own the Paint & Glass: With JaVale McGee (21.1 PPG, 10.0 RPG) and Sam Froling (16.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG) both acting as consistent double-double threats, the Hawks must lean into their league-leading rebounding average of 45.3 per game. We cannot allow the Breakers to repeat their rebounding dominance from our last meeting in Wollongong.
• The "12 or Less" Rule: Ball security is the deciding factor in this matchup. The Breakers average 7.6 steals per game and have previously used our turnovers to fuel their transition speed. To win, the Hawks must aim for 12 turnovers or fewer, similar to the discipline shown in our dominant win over Cairns.
• Neutralise the Transition Speed: The Breakers’ pace has dismantled us in both previous meetings this season. Our perimeter defenders, led by Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Daniel Grida, must disrupt Parker Jackson-Cartwright early to prevent the Breakers from capitalising on their transition opportunities.

Game Details Block

• Who: Illawarra Hawks vs New Zealand Breakers
• When: Sunday, Jan 11, 2:30 pm
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre
• Tickets: Get your tickets now at Ticketmaster!

Check our social media for more game highlights and photos. Let's pack the Sandpit and keep the season alive!