ROUND 5 of the National Basketball League (NBL) season for 2024/25 has arrived, and it all kicks off with a clash between the New Zealand Breakers and the Brisbane Bullets at Nissan Arena on Thursday night.

The clash marks the return of the Breakers to the NBL, having missed the last two rounds due to competing in matches overseas. They will take on a Bullets side fresh off its maiden win of the campaign, and will be eager to keep that form going.

With a win vital for both sides moving forward, a matchup between two of the most intriguing teams in the NBL is the perfect way to kick off Round 5.

Brisbane Bullets vs. New Zealand Breakers

Thursday, October 17 @7:30pm
Nissan Arena

Last week

Although it was not exactly pretty, the Bullets did what they needed to do to get a win over the SEM Phoenix on Saturday night. Coming into the clash, neither side was on the board for season 2024/25, and although it was a scrappy affair, Brisbane emerged victorious by two points on the road at John Cain Arena. Brisbane will be hopeful it is the result that breathes some life into its season and it can charge up the standings from here.

The Breakers have spent the last few weeks in the United States, taking on several NBA sides as a part of the competition’s preseason. It was not a successful trip for New Zealand, sustaining a trio of heavy losses to the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Breakers will be thankful to be back in the NBL, where they currently hold a league-best record of two wins and zero losses as they look to keep their unbeaten run going.

Players to watch

After delivering plenty of promise in the preseason, Bullets big man Tyrell Harrison finally translated that form to the regular season in the win over the Phoenix. He posted a whopping double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds, with 12 of those coming on the offensive end in a masterful display of second-chance scoring. If he can produce a similar output against the Breakers, it bodes extremely well for the Bullets claiming a second consecutive win.

There is no one more important to the success of the Breakers than Parker Jackson-Cartwright. He was a consistent shining light for the team during their losses to NBA teams in the past fortnight, and holds the key to breaking a game open. There are few more creative players with ball in hand than Jackson-Cartwright, and New Zealand will be eager to get him going early against Brisbane on the road at Nissan Arena.