The import point guard moved into fifth place on the Breakers all-time assists list in the victory

Parker Jackson-Cartwright continues to play his way into greatness at the New Zealand Breakers after moving into fifth all-time in the franchise’s assist list in his team’s dominant 98-75 win at Spark Arena to tip-off the Ignite Cup.

Jackson-Cartwright’s 27-point and 10-rebound double-double helped the Breakers overcome an improved Cairns team early in the game to put on a clinic in the final three quarters as Gordon Herbert’s side bounced back from consecutive losses to the Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats.

That response was what pleased the star point guard the most.

“I think just how our team responded (is what impressed me most),” Jackson-Cartwright said in the post-game press conference.

“We came out tonight with a certain focus and a sense of urgency that allowed us to be in this game and play really well.

“I think at times our offence got a little stagnant but our defence held up and in the second half, we moved (the ball) really well and different guys stepped up so it was good to see.”

Jackson-Cartwright agreed the game was a “gut-check” moment for the Breakers.

“We came out tonight with the right intensity and you have t have that coming into every game,” he said.

“There’s no gimmies in this league and just our focus and consistency is going to be a big thing for us.”

He also responded to Herbert’s comments from their last loss, saying Jackson-Cartwright had to do everything.

“I think part of it is me being more balanced as well, knowing when I have opportunities to move it, get off of it and see other advantages so my teammates can get involved.”

It’s the perfect start for the Breakers, who are looking to defend their Ignite Cup title from last season.

Ignite Cup Points Rules3 points for winning the game1 point for winning each quarter0.5 points each for a tied quarter Most a winner can get: 7 (4 quarters + the win). Most a loser can get: 3 (by winning three quarters)‍Overtime: no extra points apart from the 3 for the winWhat you need to knowNew Zealand Breakers beat Cairns Taipans 98-75 at Spark Arena in NBL27 Round 3, the opening game of the NBL27 Ignite Cup.The Breakers won all four quarters, 19-18, 23-17, 30-25 and 26-15, to take all seven Ignite Cup points to Cairns’ none, and were never level or behind after 28-28 in the second quarter.Parker Jackson-Cartwright ($435,200) top-scored with 27 points and 10 assists on 10-from-18, and Jack McVeigh ($318,300) led Cairns with 16 on 7-from-21.The game turned at the three-point line. New Zealand made 15 of 27 from deep and Cairns seven of 36, a 24-point difference in a game decided by 23.Cairns took 11 more shots from the field, 73 to 62, and made five fewer, 29 to 34, while New Zealand assisted on 23 of their 34 baskets.New Zealand BreakersParker Jackson-Cartwright ($435,200) top-scored with 27 points and 10 assists on 10-from-18, including 5-from-8 from three.Sam Mennenga ($285,700) added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 5-from-8, and went 8-from-11 at the line.Mojave King ($189,700) scored 14 off the bench on 5-from-9, including 4-from-6 from three.Carlin Davison ($126,800) did not miss off the bench, scoring nine on 4-from-4 with seven rebounds and three steals.Dejan Vasiljevic ($157,600) had nine points on 2-from-5, both makes from three, and went 3-from-4 at the line.Reuben Te Rangi ($86,900) scored seven on 3-from-4 with two assists.Charles Bediako ($260,100) blocked four shots and added six points and five rebounds on 2-from-3.New Zealand shot 34-from-62 from the field, 15-from-27 from three and 15-from-19 at the line, with 41 rebounds, 23 assists and 15 turnovers. The Breakers (2-2) play their second game of Round 3 against Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday, October 4 at 5pm AEDT.Cairns TaipansJack McVeigh ($318,300) top-scored with 16 points on 7-from-21, including 1-from-11 from three.Malique Lewis ($235,900) added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists on 4-from-8.Reyne Smith ($147,800) scored 10 on 4-from-9, including 2-from-7 from three, in 14:36 as a starter.Jaylon Brown ($264,400) had nine points on 2-from-9 and went 5-from-7 at the line.Keanu Pinder ($294,700) led Cairns with seven rebounds and four steals, and scored six on 2-from-9.Jonah Bolden ($141,100) scored six on 3-from-5 off the bench with five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.Shaun Bruce ($93,900) scored five on 2-from-4 off the bench with two assists.Cairns shot 29-from-73 from the field, 7-from-36 from three and 10-from-12 at the line, with 32 rebounds, 14 assists and 12 turnovers. The Taipans (1-3) play their second game of Round 3 against Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30pm AEST.

SuperCoach NBL
The Debrief

NBL27 Round 3 · NZ Breakers 98 def Cairns Taipans 75

49
SuperCoach points
Parker Jackson-Cartwright, the only double-double on the floor

Top of the sheet

Parker Jackson-Cartwright ($435,200) posted 49 SuperCoach points from 27 points, ten
assists and two rebounds, and the double-double added five. It is his
fourth game of NBL27 and he has not dropped below 40 in any of them: 59, 40, 52 and now 49,
an average of 50. He is the dearest player in the game and he returned
like it. Sam Mennenga ($285,700) was next on 34 from 18 points and nine
rebounds. The Breakers won the SuperCoach night 185 to 143.

Value of the night

Carlin Davison ($126,800) is the one to look at: 27 SuperCoach points off the bench in
20 minutes, from nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and
three steals. That is 21.3 per $100,000, the best return per dollar
in the game, with Reuben Te Rangi ($86,900) next on 15.0. Jonah Bolden ($141,100), also off the bench,
was third on 14.9 with 21 for the Taipans.

Best of the Taipans

Keanu Pinder ($294,700) led Cairns on 29 from only six points. Four steals
were worth 12 of them, with seven rebounds on top. Malique Lewis ($235,900) was next
on 25. Jack McVeigh ($318,300), the dearest Taipan, managed 17 on seven from
21 shooting, one from 11 from three.

The live board

NZ Breakers

Parker Jackson-Cartwright49
Sam Mennenga34
Carlin Davison27
Charles Bediako19
Dejan Vasiljevic18

Cairns Taipans

Keanu Pinder29
Malique Lewis25
Jonah Bolden21
Jack McVeigh17
Reyne Smith13

SuperCoach scores are SuperCoach’s own, read at full time, and
the league can still correct a box score in the days after a game. Points per
dollar are ours, calculated against current Round 3 prices.

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