Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers NBL Round 15 Game Preview

Tip-Off: 7:30, January 8 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers Expert Analysis

Two teams desperate for a win meet at Nissan Arena as the Brisbane Bullets take on the New Zealand Breakers.

Both sides have endured challenging stretches, with Brisbane dropping three straight games and the Breakers snapping an eight-game losing streak recently.'

The Breakers will rely heavily on the towering Tacko Fall and the playmaking of Matt Mooney to exploit Brisbane’s vulnerabilities in the paint. Meanwhile, the Bullets will look to their offensive leaders Casey Prather and Keandre Cook to carry the load.

Key Matchups

Tacko Fall vs Brisbane’s Interior Defence

Tacko Fall has been unstoppable in recent outings, averaging 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in his last two games. Brisbane’s inability to defend the paint effectively, evidenced by being outscored 172-106 inside over their past three games, makes Fall a significant threat.

Casey Prather vs New Zealand’s Defence

Casey Prather has been Brisbane’s offensive engine, averaging 27 points per game over his last 10 matches. He’ll need another big performance to offset Brisbane’s lack of scoring diversity and to challenge New Zealand’s defensive schemes.

Key Stats

• New Zealand’s Dominance in Brisbane: The Breakers have won seven of their past eight games on Brisbane's home court.

• Brisbane’s Paint Struggles: The Bullets have been outscored in the paint by a combined 66 points over their past three matches.

• Tacko Fall’s Form: 49 points and 21 rebounds in his last two outings.

• Matt Mooney’s Playmaking: 16 assists and 51 points in his past two games.

Brisbane Bullets Form & Team News

Brisbane have faced a tough run of opponents recently, losing to Illawarra, Tasmania, and Sydney since Christmas. While Casey Prather continues to shine as one of the league’s top scorers, the Bullets have become overly reliant on him and Keandre Cook to carry the offence.

Their inability to compete in the paint has been costly, and a more balanced approach is needed, with greater involvement from Tyrell Harrison and Josh Bannan in their offensive sets. On the defensive end, the Bullets must improve their interior presence to limit the damage caused by Tacko Fall.

New Zealand Breakers Form & Team News

The Breakers ended their losing streak with a win over Cairns and followed it up with a competitive performance against Perth, where they led for large stretches before faltering late.

Without Parker Jackson-Cartwright, coach Petteri Koponen has successfully built a system around Tacko Fall and Matt Mooney. Fall has become the focal point of New Zealand’s offence, while Mooney has stepped up as a leader, combining scoring with playmaking. However, Mooney’s availability in crunch time is critical, as shown in their loss to Perth when he fouled out late in the game.

Why Brisbane Will Win

Brisbane’s home-court advantage and reliance on Prather’s scoring could be enough to edge out the Breakers. If they can make adjustments defensively and win the rebounding battle, the Bullets can outpace New Zealand.

Why New Zealand Will Win

New Zealand’s success in Brisbane, combined with Tacko Fall’s dominance inside, makes them a strong chance to steal the game. If Matt Mooney continues to orchestrate the offence effectively and the Breakers limit turnovers, they can expose Brisbane’s interior defence and pull off an upset.

Conclusion

This is shaping up to be a close contest, with both teams having a lot to prove. However, the Breakers’ strengths in the paint, combined with Brisbane’s recent struggles defending that area, give New Zealand a slight edge. Expect Tacko Fall and Matt Mooney to lead the way as the Breakers cover the 5.5-point spread and possibly claim a road win.