Tatum 'sorry' after Breakers dunk on Hawks by 42
The New Zealand Breakers delivered a commanding 102–60 win over the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong, highlighting Illawarra’s poor defense and lack of energy. The match took place at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 31, 2025, during Round 7 of the NBL season.
Sam Mennenga stood out for the Breakers with an emphatic dunk that symbolized the team’s dominance throughout the night. The defending champions, the Hawks, struggled to find rhythm as the Breakers controlled both ends of the court.
Coaches’ Reactions and Reflections
"If I’m honest, no," Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen admitted when asked if he expected a 42-point victory. "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."
Game Summary
- Final score: New Zealand Breakers 102 – Illawarra Hawks 60
- Location: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
- Date: October 31, 2025
- Round: NBL Round 7
The Breakers improved to a 3–7 record while sending a clear message to the league about their potential when their defense fires on all cylinders.
Author’s Summary
The Breakers’ powerful 42-point win over the Hawks revealed their untapped consistency and defensive intensity, restoring confidence in their title defence.