Fri Jan 24 06:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Breakers Fight for Playoff Life in Desperate Four-Game Push
**Auckland, NZ** – The New Zealand Breakers face a monumental task to salvage their NBL season, needing a perfect four-game run to even have a shot at the playoffs. Currently sitting second-to-last on the ladder, their hopes rest on an improbable string of victories and defeats by rival teams.
Co-captain Mitch McCarron acknowledges the long odds, stating, “We just have to face the reality – it’s about winning games one by one.” The Breakers’ improbable quest begins Friday night against the Brisbane Bullets in Christchurch. To reach the post-season, the team must win all four remaining games against Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, and Illawarra. Simultaneously, a complex series of results involving Tasmania JackJumpers, Adelaide 36ers, and Brisbane Bullets must also fall in their favor.
While the Breakers’ first three opponents are currently outside playoff contention, their final game against table-topping Illawarra looms as a significant hurdle. Their recent struggles, including an eight-game losing streak, stem from a combination of factors: the departure of center Freddie Gillespie, the arrival of Tacko Fall changing team dynamics, injuries, and a five-game suspension for star guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright.
McCarron, while acknowledging the team’s downturn in form after a strong start, remains focused on the immediate task. “There are four games left, we’re on nine wins and chasing No. 13 – it’s as simple as that,” he said.
The Breakers’ playoff hopes depend on a perfect storm of their own victories and losses by other teams, making the remaining games a high-stakes battle for survival. Their journey resumes Friday night against Brisbane, a team they defeated in their season opener, before traveling to Adelaide on Sunday. The final two games are back in Auckland against Cairns and Illawarra.
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