Table of Contents
Round 1 of the NBL26 season continues in Auckland, where the New Zealand Breakers will host the Brisbane Bullets at Spark Arena.
Both sides have made plenty of roster changes ahead of the new campaign. The Breakers have kept head coach Petteri Koponen at the helm, retained their star point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and added a strong group of New Zealand players to bolster their depth.
The Bullets, meanwhile, look dangerous with some impressive top-end talent. They’ve retained Casey Prather, one of the standout performers of NBL25, and have added former MVP Jaylen Adams along with scoring machine Javon Freeman-Liberty. The big question for Brisbane is new coach Stu Lash, who doesn’t bring a wealth of previous coaching experience to the role.
With plenty of fresh talent on both rosters and some uncertainty around how the new pieces will gel, this matchup is shaping up to be another tight and entertaining contest.
Here is a New Zealand Breakers vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction for Friday, September 19th 2025.
Be sure to check back before each NBL26 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for matches of NBL Season 26.
New Zealand Breakers vs Brisbane Bullets
Venue – Spark Arena
Tip Off – 5.30pm EST
NBL25 Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 10-19 | 6-9 | 4-10 |
| Brisbane | 12-17 | 6-8 | 6-9 |
NBL25 Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 85.7 | 91.4 | 177.1 |
| Brisbane | 92.3 | 97.9 | 190.2 |
Quick Game Facts
- Six of New Zealand’s last seven home games have gone UNDER the total, showing their ability to slow teams down at Spark Arena.
- The Breakers are fast starters — they’ve won the first half in 12 straight home openers.
- Brisbane big man Tyrell Harrison has been a force on the glass, pulling down 9+ rebounds in five straight games.
- Brisbane has covered the line in each of its last three games against New Zealand.
Prediction
A host of changes to both rosters, but the New Zealand Breakers looked good in the preseason and were one of the better defensive sides last season. They are dangerous on their home floor and have a stack of local players to bolster their roster. The will be tough to beat in this game.