The NZ Breakers have completed a winless Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) pre-season.
Like their opening loss at the ANBL Blitz on the Gold Coast, a poor fourth quarter again cost the Breakers, outscored 28-14 down the stretch to lose 90-79 to the Sydney Kings at Cararra Stadium on Friday night.
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Up three entering the fourth quarter, the Breakers allowed the Kings to go on a 10-0 run in the opening minutes, including five points from Shaun Bruce.
The Breakers got within three points on a Matt Mooney triple with 3:03 remaining but the Kings ended the game on an 11-3 burst, beating the Breakers for the second time in two weeks.
With point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright not featuring, fellow American Mooney stepped up, finishing with a game-high 25 points (11/16 FG, 3/7 3pt), eight assists and two steals.
Fellow guards Mojave King and Mitch McCarron also helped filled the void, King putting up 13 points (3/9 FG, 2/6 3pt, 5/5 FT) and three rebounds and McCarron 10 points (3/6 FG, 2/4 3pt) and four assists.
American centre Freddie Gillespie had his best game of the preseason, going for 13 points (4/7 FG, 5/5 FT), five rebounds, two steals and three blocks, while Kiwi big man Sam Mennenga had nine points and five boards.
Former Breakers guard Izayah Le'afa did not feature for the Kings, nor did former league MVP and NBA player Xavier Cooks.
In a back-and-fourth first three quarters, scores were tied after the first period, with the Breakers using a 7-2 run to go up by four mid-way through the second, which they held into halftime.
The Kings scored eight straight points to open the third, before the Breakers answered with seven points, and then closed the quarter on a 12-5 run, with five different players making baskets.
The Breakers open the ANBL season on September 21 (tip-off 8pm NZ Time) against the Brisbane Bullets at Perth's HBF Arena, before their home opener against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at Auckland's Spark Arena on September 29 (tip-off 7.30pm)
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