News | Basketball

31 Jan 2026 8:49

| outlook hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity | Search |

NZCity News

News

Home > News > Sports > Basketball

An important win for the Breakers and their bid for the playoffs in basketball's NBL

An important win for the Breakers and their bid for the playoffs in basketball's NBL

31 January 2026

They've come from eight down with five minutes to play to clinch a 97-95 home victory over Melbourne United.

With starters Sam Menenga and Rob Baker both out injured - coach Petteri Koponen says he's proud of how his squad stepped up, some out of position.

18-year-old Mexican star Karim Lopez poured in an NBL career-high 32 points.

The Breakers remain one spot outside the playoffs in seventh - but are now within one win of sixth-placed Tasmania.

BASKETBALL COVERAGE WITH BK'S TROPICAL WHOPPER. PINEAPPLE IN A BURGER. THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL WHOPPER YET

>> More Basketball News

Subscribe to NZCity's Basketball articles

© 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

Other Basketball News

30 Jan: The New Zealand Breakers have kept the NBL playoff door ajar with a 97-95 win over Melbourne United at Auckland's Spark Arena

29 Jan: The Australian basketball league's game review panel is to investigate 10 players and coaches following the brawl between Adelaide and Brisbane last night

29 Jan: Adelaide and Brisbane have given new meaning to the 'Ignite Cup' in basketball's ANBL

26 Jan: In NBA basketball today, the Detroit Pistons host the Sacramento Kings from 9am before the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets tip off at 9.30

25 Jan: Kiwi Finn Fisher-Black has ended cycling's Tour Down Under with a bang, crossing second in a sprint on the final stage to take 25th overall

24 Jan: Another blow for the New Zealand Breakers, following last night's heartbreaking two-point overtime home loss to the Adelaide 36ers

24 Jan: Coach Petteri Koponen is putting his hand up for the crucial turnover in the Breakers overtime defeat to Adelaide in basketball's NBL

Top Stories

RUGBY
Rugby Australia has shown its desire to retain young talent after re-signing star Wallabies outside back Max Jorgensen through to the 2031 World Cup More...

BUSINESS
Gold price plummets as markets prepare for Fed chair announcement — as it happened More...

Today's News

Politics:
Over 3 million more 'Epstein files' released by US government 8:46

Environment:
Children living in makeshift tents in Gaza are dying from hypothermia 8:36

Motoring:
American alpine ski veteran Lindsay Vonn has been airlifted to a Swiss hospital after crashing during her final downhill run ahead of the Winter Olympics 8:36

Entertainment:
Kate Winslet says that playing troubled characters has taken a toll on her mental health 8:31

Health & Safety:
Kiwis travelling to parts of Asia could face Covid-style screening measures - after cases of the deadly Nipah virus 8:26

Living & Travel:
Catherine O'Hara, the actor known for her roles as the mother in Home Alone, as well as roles in Beetlejuice has died 8:16

Golf:
Golfer Lydia Ko is tied for the lead at eight-under par during the second round at the LPGA Tour's season-opening Tournament of Champions in Florida 8:06

Soccer:
Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano's almost at a loss for words to explain their 2-all draw with visitors Melbourne City in football's men's A-League 8:06

Entertainment:
Jim Curtis has revealed that he and Jennifer Aniston "took a long time" to start their relationship 8:01

Politics:
More than three million pages related to the Jeffrey Epstein files - including 2000 videos and 180,000 images have been released 7:36

News Search

© 2026 New Zealand City Ltd