In the first Ignite Cup game in NBL history, the New Zealand Breakers will host the Illawarra Hawks at Spark Arena in a matchup that already carries major stakes for both sides.

Neither team has tasted victory to start the NBL26 season – the Breakers sit at 0-4, while the defending champion Hawks are 0-2. For both, this is a crucial opportunity to steady the ship before the season slips away.

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Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup, Breakers big man Sam Mennenga didn’t downplay the stakes.

“I don’t know much about the Ignite Cup, but I do know that we have to win this game,” he said.

“If you lose, you can lose fighting – and I think we haven’t done that yet. We just need to pick it up in all aspects of the game.”

The Breakers’ offence has been one of the league’s coldest starts, plagued by hesitation and missed opportunities. Under-pressure head coach Petteri Koponen has been calling for more urgency and effort from his group after another frustrating loss to the Kings.

“It starts with the pride, with the players,” Koponen said. “If you want to win these games, you have to be able to want to do the dirty work.”

That mentality will need to show against a Hawks team that thrives on pressure and toughness. The Breakers will again lean heavily on Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who has been their heartbeat across the opening rounds. The explosive guard has shouldered an enormous workload, but he’ll need help from Rob Baker, Izaiah Brockington, and Mennenga if New Zealand is to avoid an 0-5 start – a nightmare scenario for a team tipped to contend.

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On the other side, Illawarra are hoping to turn encouraging stretches into complete performances. Their 0-2 record doesn’t tell the full story – they’ve battled well against strong opposition in Tasmania and Perth, but execution down the stretch has hurt them.

Star guard Tyler Harvey said the message from head coach Justin Tatum remained clear.

“The message is to win one game, and then after you win one game, win another,” Harvey told foxsports.com.au. “We just need to find a way to win and to close out games better.”

Harvey remains upbeat despite the slow start.

“Losing isn’t fun,” he said. “But we’re figuring out this puzzle day by day, which is also very fun. It’s all about learning, man. You want to win as you learn.”

Illawarra’s most recent defeat came against the Wildcats – a game they started strong before running out of steam. “If we’re in that position again, we hope to be better,” Harvey said, reflecting on the collapse.

Tyler Harvey of the Hawks.Source: Getty Images

The Hawks will again rely on JaVale McGee, who has been one of the early-season MVP frontrunners. The three-time NBA champion is averaging 29 points and 13 rebounds per game, dominating opponents inside with size and power. The Breakers’ frontcourt has struggled to contain bigs so far this season, and if McGee establishes position early, it could spell trouble for Koponen’s side.

For Illawarra, containing Jackson-Cartwright will be key.

“Oh man, I can’t tell you our game plan,” Harvey laughed. “But I just know he’s a very good player. He’s very fast, so we know that’s going to have to be a priority for us.”

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that this will be the NBL’s first official Ignite Cup game, where every quarter matters.

The new format and added incentives could inject even more intensity into what’s already shaping up as one of the most fascinating early-season contests.

Expect a packed Spark Arena and two desperate teams battling not just for a win — but to reignite their seasons.