Can Perth Continue Its Dominance Over New Zealand? Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers Preview | September 26, 2026
Perth Wildcats
New Zealand Breakers
Perth Wildcats will host New Zealand Breakers at home on September 26 in Round 3 of the NBL season. Both teams have won one of their first two games, but Perth have a particularly strong recent record against their next opponent.
Match Preview
Perth finished fourth in last season's regular season with a 21-12 record. The Wildcats then beat Melbourne United 95-77 in the quarter-finals before losing their semi-final series against Sydney 0-2.
The new campaign began with a difficult home defeat to South East Melbourne, as Perth lost 79-100. However, the Wildcats quickly responded in their next game against Adelaide. They trailed heading into the final quarter but turned the game around to secure a narrow 98-97 victory. Eli Pepper led the way with 25 points, while Joseph Lual-Acuil added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Perth won 10 of 17 home games last season, and their record against New Zealand at home has been particularly impressive. The Wildcats have won their last three home meetings with the Breakers and lost only once in their last 10 games against them in Perth.
New Zealand finished seventh last season with 13 wins and 20 defeats, missing out on the playoffs. Their away record was also inconsistent, with six wins from 17 road games.
The Breakers have started the new campaign with mixed results. They opened with an 95-81 victory over Illawarra Hawks before narrowly losing 85-88 to Brisbane Bullets. Parker Jackson-Cartwright was the team's leading scorer against Brisbane with 26 points, while Dejan Vasiljevic contributed 17.
Both teams currently have a 1-1 record. New Zealand sit fourth in the standings on tiebreakers, while Perth are eighth, but the head-to-head history strongly favors the Wildcats. Perth have won five consecutive meetings with the Breakers, while their dominance in home games against New Zealand has been even more pronounced.
Key Trends
- Perth won 10 of 17 home games last season.
- Perth have won five consecutive meetings with New Zealand.
- Perth have lost only once in their last 10 home games against the Breakers.
Prediction
Both teams have already shown resilience during the opening two rounds. New Zealand recovered from its opening victory with a narrow defeat to Brisbane, while Perth responded to a heavy loss against South East Melbourne by producing a strong fourth-quarter comeback against Adelaide. The difference comes from the matchup itself. Perth have dominated the Breakers in recent seasons, winning the last five meetings, and their home record against New Zealand is particularly strong. With 9 wins in their last 10 home meetings with the Breakers, the Wildcats have consistently found a way to perform well in this fixture. New Zealand should be competitive, but Perth's home advantage and outstanding head-to-head record make the Wildcats the more convincing side to continue their winning run against the Breakers and claim a second victory of the season. Recommended Bet: Perth Wildcats -4.5 Asian Handicap
