Preview | BNZ Breakers @ Melbourne United

The BNZ Breakers got to play one game at home to close October and now are already back on the road on Monday night to take on a fully powered Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

It's a rare Monday night game this NBL season because it's ahead of the public holiday in Melbourne on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup with the BNZ Breakers drawing the straw to take on United for the occasion.

Both teams are fresh off having played across the weekend with the BNZ Breakers now coming into the match up with a 4-6 record while United are 5-5 having won their past two.

The BNZ Breakers didn’t enjoy the homecoming to Spark Arena they were hoping back on Friday night with the eventual seven-point loss to the Adelaide 36ers in what was their first defeat suffered at home for NBL27.

Meanwhile, United took control over the last three quarters in Cairns against the Taipans on Saturday night for the eventual 16-point victory which saw them secure back-to-back wins, and to have now won four of their last six matches to be building some momentum.

While the BNZ Breakers did lose on Friday night at home to the 36ers, the second half performance was encouraging and gives them something to build on now coming into Monday's game against Melbourne.

They still put up 101 points for the game including outscoring Adelaide 57-52 after half-time and with the front court especially impressive.

Sam Mennenga finished with another 28 points, five rebounds and three assists on 6/9 three-point shooting. That means he is now averaging 30.6 points and 11.0 rebounds over the past five matches.

Then there's import centre Charles Bediako who had 16 points, five rebounds and five blocks against Adelaide, which came on the back of 15 points and 10 rebounds in Cairns the previous Sunday.

That sets up a fascinating battle between that BNZ Breakers pair against Melbourne's Josh Oduro who is averaging 25.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in his past three matches, and Kiwi Sam Waardenburg fresh off 12 points, five rebounds and three assists in Cairns on Saturday.

The main event could very well be the point guard battle between BNZ Breakers captain Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Melbourne's 367-game NBA star Cole Anthony.

Jackson-Cartwright is delivering 22.3 points, 8.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds a game this season for New Zealand, with Anthony producing 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his first NBL season at Melbourne.

The game is also the first time that the two teams have played one another in NBL27 and going back to last season, Melbourne won the first two meetings before the BNZ Breakers won the third, and last, clash.

United won 114-82 at John Cain Arena last year on September 21 before backing up also winning 104-88 at home on October 19, but the BNZ Breakers hit back on January 30 with the thrilling 97-95 victory at Spark Arena.

On that occasion, current NBA star at the Memphis Grizzlies, Karim Lopez, had a career-best night with 32 points and eight rebounds, with Jackson-Cartwright adding 23 points and three assists, Izaiah Brockington 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, and veteran big man Rob Loe 10 points, five boards and three assists.

Monday night's game is the beginning of another week on the road for the BNZ Breakers with them going on to play the Tasmania JackJumpers in Launceston on Friday night before a return to Spark Arena the following Friday night to take on the Brisbane Bullets.

BNZ Breakers v Melbourne
John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Monday 2 November, 2026
9:30pm tipoff (NZ time)

Next Home game
BNZ Breakers v Brisbane Bullets

Spark Arena
Friday 13 November, 2026
7:30pm tipoff (NZ time)
Tickets available by clicking here