No Parker Jackson-Cartwright, no problem for the NZ Breakers.
The Breakers got big games from American guard Matt Mooney and import big man Tacko Fall as they ended their eight-game Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) losing streak with a 92-68 win over the Cairns Taipans on New Year's Eve.
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The Breakers arrived at the Cairns Convention Centre having lost all eight games since cutting Freddie Gillespie and adding Fall to the roster in November and were missing MVP candidate Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who was suspended after their Christmas Day loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers.
The Breakers showed a performance full of heart to dominate a listless Taipans outfit, with Mooney delivering 23 points (9/14 FG, 3/5 3pt) and 10 assists, and Fall 21 points (9/14 FG) and 12 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The last ANBL game of 2024 featured the two coldest teams, with the Snakes having lost 14 straight and not tasted a victory since beating Melbourne United on October 6, while the Breakers' last win was in Cairns back on November 16.
The Breakers returned to make a point of utilising the size advantage of Fall early on.
It worked a treat too as he scored 10 points in the opening four minutes, opening up a 19-7 lead before turning that into a 14-point advantage during the second period.
The Breakers were still up 10 by halftime, with Fall producing 16 points in just over nine minutes, while the Snakes were ice-cold, shooting just 36 percent from the field and 29 percent from three.
Mooney took control in the second half for the Breakers and he hit two threes in the third quarter to help the lead to 18 by three-quarter time, and it grew to as much as 26 in the fourth.
The visitors cruised to the drought-breaking 24-point win from there, shooting 54 percent from the field, despite going 14-of-27 at the foul line.
Kiwi forward Sam Mennenga enjoyed his return to Cairns with 11 points (5/6 FG) and five rebounds off the bench, while Max Darling provided nine points.
Breakers coach Petteri Koponen was full of praise for his team afterwards, particularly Mooney and Mitch McCarron (eight points, five rebounds, three assists).
"I have to give big credit to Matt Mooney and Mitch McCarron, especially Mitch who it hasn’t been easy for during the season behind Parker," he said.
"But tonight how he controlled the game together with Matt, we were sharing the ball excellent and also defensively we were great, and Mojave King did a great job with Rob Edwards.
"This guy (Fall) next to me also was amazing and impactful with all his minutes that he was on the floor."
It was a horror loss for Cairns who have now lost 15 straight at 3-16 as they shot 32 percent while having 14 turnovers from which the Breakers scored 24 points off.
Tanner Groves battled hard for 21 points and eight rebounds with Kiwi forward Sam Waardenburg providing 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The struggles of Edwards (16 points, five turnovers, 2/11 shooting) and Taran Armstrong (two points, three turnovers, 1/10 shooting) were problematic for the home team.
Fall was the focal point inside for the Breakers and they were able to take full advantage early on, and point guard McCarron was instrumental in making that happen after getting the start.
The Breakers scored seven straight points to lead 7-2 and then went on another 12-2 run to lead 19-7 with Fall having 10 of those 19 points.
The Breakers turned that into a 21-15 lead by the end of the first quarter while making 8-of-19 from the floor, opposed to 5-of-19 from the Taipans, and having nine second chance points to two.
Fall scored another couple of early buckets in the second period and then the Breakers went on a 7-0 run to lead by 12, and it soon got to 13 with another Max Darling three, and then 14 with a Jonah Bolden finish.
Cairns answered with six consecutive points but the Breakers had all the answers to go into half-time leading 47-37 with the Breakers 5/13 free-throw shooting helping to at least keep the Snakes in touch.
Even with Fall not reappearing until six minutes into the third quarter, the Breakers again build on their lead and it was back to 14 when Matt Mooney knocked down his second triple of the contest.
The Breakers then finished the third quarter with the last six points with the last five of those courtesy of Mooney as the lead grew to 18, and then was out to 20 early in the fourth frame.
The Breakers continued to capitalise on careless Cairns turnovers to see the lead grow to as much as 26 before the Breakers returned to the winner's list in style with the 24-point win.
The Breakers are back at home on Sunday to host the Perth Wildcats in the second of five games without suspended Jackson-Cartwright, while the Taipans take on the league-leading Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Friday.
NZ Breakers 92 (Matt Mooney 23, Tacko Fall 21, Sam Mennenga 11) Cairns Taipans 68 (Tanner Groves 21, Rob Edwards 16, Sam Waardenburg 11). 1Q: 21-15, HT: 47-37, 3Q: 72-54