Mooney leads Breakers over fast-finishing Taipans

• New Zealand Breakers move to 10-18, Cairns drop to 7-20
• Matt Mooney has game-high 24 points
• Breakers were without Parker Jackson-Cartwright

New Zealand Breakers scorched the nets at Spark Arena, building a commanding 21-point lead before fending off a furious late rally by the Cairns Taipans to secure a 99-92 victory (Game Centre) in NBL25 round 19 on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

The win lifts the Breakers out of wooden spoon contention and caps off a rollercoaster season with a thrilling home triumph.

The Breakers came out of the gates blazing, shooting at an astounding 80% clip in the first half to seize control of the contest.

Their red-hot shooting continued well into the second half, as they stretched their advantage to 21 points early in the fourth quarter. However, the resilient Taipans refused to go quietly, unleashing a blistering 15-1 run that slashed the deficit to just six points in the dying minutes. But the home side managed to weather the storm, holding on for a hard-fought seven-point win.

The victory was particularly sweet for New Zealand, coming against a Cairns side that had been riding high after recent upset wins over league-leading Illawarra and Perth. The Breakers' offensive onslaught was too much for the Snakes to handle, as they finished the game shooting a scorching 61% from the field and 10-from-21 from beyond the arc.

Despite their impressive shooting, the Breakers' 17 turnovers kept the door open for Cairns, allowing them to stay within striking distance. The Taipans capitalised on these miscues, scoring 11 points off turnovers in the first half alone. This set the stage for their dramatic fourth-quarter surge, spearheaded by the energetic play of Kyrin Galloway and Kody Stattmann.

Matt Mooney emerged as the hero for New Zealand, stepping up brilliantly in the absence of standout Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

Mooney poured in a game-high 24 points whilst dishing out 8 assists, orchestrating the Breakers' high-octane attack. His clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter pushed the lead back to 20 points, providing just enough cushion to withstand Cairns' final push.

"We played with our heads and were under control most of the game. It was a solid 40 minutes," Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said.

The Breakers' balanced scoring attack proved crucial, with five players reaching double figures. Mojave King chipped in 16 points, while the towering presence of Tacko Fall contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds. Karim Lopez and Sam Mennenga rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 and 10 points respectively, with Mennenga also grabbing 8 boards.

For Cairns, Pedro Bradshaw led the way with 16 points, including a perfect 5-from-5 from three-point range. Sam Waardenburg matched Bradshaw's 16 points while stuffing the stat sheet with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Rob Edwards added 14 points, and Taran Armstrong orchestrated the offence with 10 points and 8 assists.

Despite the loss, Taipans coach Adam Forde found positives.

"It would have been easy to roll over at 21 down in the fourth and call it a night," Forde said.

"I love the fight."

The Breakers will look to close out their season on a high note when they host the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Taipans face a quick turnaround with two games in 48 hours next week. They'll first welcome the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday before travelling to face the Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday.