IT WAS yet another eye-catching performance from National Basketball League (NBL) Next Star Karim Lopez, who was integral as the New Zealand Breakers kept their season alive with a dominant 18-point win over the Cairns Taipans.

The Breakers faced off against the Taipans as a part of HoopsFest in Perth, needing a win to keep their hopes of a finals appearance alive in the coming months. Sitting in seventh spot on the ladder, New Zealand needs to keep winning in order to remain a mathematical chance of moving into the top six come season’s end.

The Breakers were far too good for the struggling Taipans, showing why they are still considered a threat in the race for the finals. Dominating from start to finish, New Zealand was excellent out west, leading for essentially all of the contest and cruising home to a comfortable win to remain in touch with the sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers.

Lopez continued his consistent campaign, with the young gun hitting his straps in the back half of his final season in the Next Stars program, and putting together another physically imposing performance against Cairns.

Cairns Taipans (86) def. by New Zealand Breakers (104)

Karim Lopez – 16 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal

One of the most reliable performers in the Breakers’ lineup, Lopez was again impressive for New Zealand in the win over the Taipans, and may be asked to perform just as well on the scoring front following an ACL injury to Rob Baker on Saturday.

He started the match with a pair of imposing defensive rebounds before hitting the scoreboard with a powerful tip-dunk, punching the ball into the hoop following a Sam Mennenga miss. It was not his only score of the quarter, with Lopez cutting to the lane, receiving the dish off from Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and throwing down a ferocious one-handed dunk.

It was a posterizer of sorts, with the youngster throwing down the dunk over the top of Taipans superstar Jack McVeigh in a highlight play and helped set the tone for the Breakers as they jumped out to a five-point lead at the first change.

His inside presence continued into the second frame, pulling down boards on both ends and putting plenty of pressure on the rim in the process with multiple dunks and trips to the free throw line. Lopez nailed his first three-pointer of the match late in the second quarter, showing more confidence in his jumpshot to help maintain the buffer at five points at half time.

It was more of the same in the third quarter from the Next Star, who pulled down an offensive board and threw down yet another slam in what was one of his best inside scoring performances in the NBL. He also showed his smoothness on the drive with a crafty layup in the term, and ended the quarter on the bench following another impressive rebounding patch of play.

Although he was careless at times with the ball, Lopez continued to be an immense presence in the paint as the Breakers put the game to bed in the final frame. Despite only scoring one point in the period after splitting a pair of free throws, he showed excellent defensive craft to cover passing lanes and poke the ball free, putting the pressure back on the Taipans as the Breakers finished the game in style.

He finished the contest with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, crashing the glass with intent and creating plenty of possessions for his team. Lopez’s impact on both sides of the ball is one of his biggest strengths, and he will be eager to close out his time with the Breakers strongly before turning his attention to the 2026 NBA Draft.