Preview | BNZ Breakers @ Sydney Kings

The BNZ Breakers have been the masters since the Ignite Cup by 7-Eleven started and aim to continue that on Wednesday night as they remain on the road to take on the defending NBL champion Sydney Kings in Canberra.

It's a second game already this season in the Ignite Cup for the Breakers when they take on the Kings at AIS Arena as they attempt to continue their standout form in the in-season tournament.

The Breakers won it all a season ago ending up beating the Adelaide 36ers in the Championship Game on the Gold Coast. Now, Wednesday night's game will be in the same venue where this season's Ignite Cup finals weekend will be held in Canberra.

The Breakers come into the match up with the Kings with a 3-3 record on the season having lost in Perth to the Wildcats on Saturday night as they continue their run of road games throughout October.

They take on a Kings team who suffered their first loss as well on Sunday for NBL27 as reigning champions at home to the 36ers.

The Breakers will once again be without superstar guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Josiah-Jordan James and Preston Le Gassick while newly signed replacement import Nelson Weidemann won't yet be available.

Despite that, what the Breakers showed in Perth is how there are plenty of players within the squad that can step up. That was led by an inspired performance from Sam Mennenga with 40 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and five made three-pointers.

Carlin Davison also stepped in as the main ball handler with 11 assists, while Mojave King delivered 17 points, so the Breakers head to Canberra to face the Kings fully expecting a strong showing.

Mennenga played like a man possessed for the Breakers in Perth on Saturday night taking on the extra responsibility in the absence of Jackson-Cartwright.

But no matter who is or isn’t available for the Breakers, and what is stacked against them, he will go into every game with full confidence of coming away with the win and Wednesday night against the Kings is no different.

"I don't think you should ever go into a game not thinking you can win it and I don't think we want to ever go into a game not believing we can win," Mennenga said.

"That's regardless of pieces, you play the cards you're dealt. You can't let it define and if you're going to play the victim card going into a game, you've already lost the game.

"It's a next guy up mentality, but you don't have a choice. You have to play the game regardless and guys need to step up, and I needed to step up but you can't play that victim.

"I thought our effort was there for a good 30 minutes or so and we stayed in it, but we need 40 minutes of good basketball to win games."

Another shining light from Saturday night in Perth was Davison who was thrust into the role as a point guard for a lot of the evening in the absence of Jackson-Cartwright and Le Gassick, and with Weidemann yet to arrive.

He dished out 11 assists to show what a versatile player he can be to add that playmaking and distributing to his game, and Mennenga spoke highly of what he did.

"He's been great and he's a super talented player," Mennenga said.

"He's stepping up and embracing it, and there's going to be growing pains and I think he acknowledges it, but his teammates believe in him and the coaching staff believes in him.

"He has the potential to be a really good player and I think he's on his way to doing that, but everything takes time."

Wednesday will be the first time the two teams have met in NBL27 but going back to last season and the Breakers did win one of the four meetings even though the Kings went on to win the championship.

New Zealand scored a 95-90 win back on December 3 last year and they will now look to get off to a good start this season against the defending champions.

There's plenty of history between the two teams as well highlighted by their meeting in an enthralling five-game Championship Series back in NBL23 where the Breakers pushed the Kings all the way.

BNZ Breakers v Sydney Kings
AIS Arena, Canberra
Wednesday 14 October, 2026
9:30pm tipoff (NZ time)

Next Home game
BNZ Breakers v Adelaide 36ers
Spark Arena
Friday 30 October, 2026
7:30pm tipoff (NZ time)
Tickets available by clicking here