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Live sport on SN this weekendGoulding red hot as unbeaten Melbourne United smash Breakers
Shayne Hope, AAP • October 19th, 2025 6:59 pm
Chris Goulding's outside shooting has kept Melbourne United's perfect start to the season in tact | Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Dean Vickerman might not be able to keep Chris Goulding out of Melbourne United's starting line-up much longer after the veteran sharpshooter steered his team to a 104-88 thrashing of the New Zealand Breakers.
Goulding, who sat out the first month of the season with a quad injury, rose from the bench for the third straight game at John Cain Arena on Sunday and top-scored with 23 points.
The 36-year-old's tally came on 8-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-8 from long range, in less than 19 minutes on court.
Tanner Krebs (17 points) and Tyson Walker (16) were also among Melbourne's most influential players - five of whom scored in double figures - in a dominant team performance.
It gave the title favourites a perfect 7-0 record to open the new campaign, after their losses in the last two championship series.
The last time United started with seven consecutive wins was in their 2020-21 title-winning season.
New Zealand had shown improved form across their previous three games but were no match for Melbourne and slipped to 2-6, above only struggling Illawarra on the ladder.
Izaiah Brockington (25 points) top-scored for the Breakers, who didn't get anywhere near enough defensive stops to challenge their hosts.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (20 points, nine assists, nine rebounds) and Sam Mennenga (16 points) also fought hard in a losing cause.
Melbourne, who smashed New Zealand by 32 points at home in round one, never trailed on Sunday and flexed their collective muscle on a 17-2 run to take control the contest before halftime.
Brockington's 16 first-half points prevented it from being a complete blow-out, but he was out-done by Goulding at the other end.
Melbourne's key weapon had 18 first-half points on six-of-eight shooting, including five-of-six from deep, to help his side to a commanding 56-38 lead.
New Zealand's 9-0 run, sparked by threes from Mennenga and Jackson-Cartwright, trimmed the deficit to nine points midway through the third period.
But Melbourne steadied and kept their opponents at arm's length in the closing stages.
Goulding has now gone 101 consecutive appearances with at least one successful three-pointer, after becoming the first player in NBL history to reach triple-figures two days earlier.
The Breakers are back in action at home to the Brisbane Bullets on Thursday night, while Melbourne United have games against the Cairns Taipans (Friday, away) and Adelaide 36ers (Sunday, home) in round six.
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