Friday night NBL action sees the Illawarra Hawks host the New Zealand Breakers at the WIN Entertainment Centre. The Hawks are coming off a thrilling 85-84 road win over the Perth Wildcats, led by a combined 48 points from Tyler Harvey and Javale McGee. It was a much-needed boost for Illawarra, who will be eager to avenge their heavy 117-88 loss to the Breakers earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the Breakers have now dropped two straight games and are in danger of slipping out of touch with the top contenders. With their season starting to drift, this matchup shapes as a crucial one for both sides — the Hawks looking to build momentum, and the Breakers desperate to turn things around.
Here is a Illawarra Hawks vs New Zealand Breakers Prediction for Friday October 31st, 2025 and Round 7 of the NBL26 Season.
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Illawarra Hawks vs New Zealand Breakers
Venue – WIN Entertainment Centre
Tip Off – 7.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illawarra | 2-4 | 1-1 | 1-3 |
| NZ | 2-7 | 2-4 | 0-3 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illawarra | 89.2 | 98.2 | 187.4 |
| NZ | 86.7 | 92.4 | 179.1 |
Quick Game Facts
- The Breakers have dropped 13 straight games when losing the rebound battle — they’ll need to crash the glass hard in this one.
- The Hawks have owned this matchup at home, winning four straight against New Zealand at WIN Entertainment Centre.
- Heading into Round 7, the Breakers rank 10th in opponent assists per game (20.9) — teams are moving the ball freely against them.
Quick Player Facts – Illawarra Hawks
- JaVale McGee has been a beast on the boards — he ranks 2nd in the league in rebounds per game (10.7) heading into Round 7.
Quick Player Facts – New Zealand Breakers
- Parker Jackson-Cartwright was in full playmaker mode last time against the Hawks, dishing out a season-high 17 assists.
Prediction
The Illawarra Hawks get a boost with the return of star guard Will Hickey and new import QJ Peterson for this clash. They’re coming off a win, though last weekend’s victory over the Wildcats came against a team that shot just 16% from three. New Zealand Breakers will be confident after their previous win against the Hawks, and their defence could make it tough. Expect a close contest, with the Hawks edging out the win and the Game Total likely to go under.