Mooney ensures Breakers start 2025 as winners

• Breakers snap eight-game losing skid
• Cairns Taipans fall deeper into losing streak, now 14
• Matt Mooney led all scorers, without suspended Parker Jackson-Cartwright

New Zealand's Matthew Mooney led all scorers with 23 as the Breakers snapped a horrendous eight-game losing streak and to extend Cairns Taipans even more horrendous losing streak to 14, winning the last game of 2024 92-68 (Game Centre) at the Cairns Convention Centre on New Year's Eve.

The Breakers' commanding performance was spearheaded Mooney's 23 points and 10 assist double-double. The Breakers were without Parker Jackson-Cartwright who was suspended for five games for making contact with an official in the 97-82 Christmas Day blow-out loss to the red-hot Tasmania JackJumpers.

The Breakers are now 8-11 and Cairns 3-16.

From the opening tip, the Breakers asserted their dominance, quickly building a lead that they would never relinquish. Their suffocating defence and efficient offensive execution left the Taipans scrambling to keep pace throughout the match.

By halftime, New Zealand had established a comfortable 47-37 advantage, but it was in the third quarter where they truly broke the game open.

The Breakers' third-quarter onslaught saw them outscore the Taipans 25-17, effectively putting the contest out of reach. Their ball movement was crisp and their shot selection decent. The home crowd, hoping for a New Year's Eve celebration, was left disappointed (again) as the visitors systematically dismantled the Taipans.

Cairns, to their credit, attempted to rally in the final period, but the deficit proved insurmountable. The Breakers' lead ballooned to as much as 26 points, showcasing the gulf in class between the two sides on the night.

New Zealand's bench contributed significantly, outscoring their Cairns counterparts 27-14 and maintaining the pressure when the starters rested.

The statistics tell a tale of two vastly different performances. The Breakers shot a blistering 54% from the field, including an efficient 62% on two-point attempts. In stark contrast, the Taipans struggled mightily, managing just 32% overall and a paltry 28% from beyond the arc. New Zealand's dominance extended to the glass, where they out-rebounded Cairns 50-36, leading to a 17-6 advantage in second-chance points.

At the heart of the Breakers' triumph was the stellar play of Micah Mooney. The guard turned in a performance for the ages, notching a triple-double with 23 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. Mooney's vision on the court was unparalleled, as he consistently found open teammates and created scoring opportunities seemingly at will.

Equally impressive was the contribution of Tacko Fall, who dominated the paint in his limited minutes. The towering centre amassed 21 points and 12 rebounds in about 16, shooting an efficient 9-from-14 from the field and altering countless Taipans shots with his imposing presence.

For Cairns, it was a night to forget. Tanner Groves led the team with 21 points, but it came on an inefficient 8-of-13 shooting. The Taipans' offence looked disjointed for much of the contest, managing just 16 assists as a team compared to the Breakers' 19.