The NZ Breakers have now gone more than a month without a win in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL).
The Breakers’ losing streak grew to seven games on Friday night, with a nail-biting 92-84 loss to the Sydney Kings in their return to Auckland’s Spark Arena.
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A Max Darling bucket put the Breakers up 76-68 with 8:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, they went scoreless for more than five minutes, as the Kings closed within two, and were outscored 24-8 down the stretch.
A Tacko Fall basket to end the drought sparked a flurry of points, with the Kings emerging with an 84-83 lead with 1:38 to play.
After a Fall miss and turnover, Jaylen Adams extended the Kings’ lead, then Fall missed again from the field and one-of-two at the foul-line, making it a two-point game with 53 seconds left.
Adams connected again, before a Sam Mennenga turnover led to A Toohey’s dagger basket, putting the visitors up six.
The Breakers’ last win came on November 16, an ugly 77-69 win at the Cairns Taipans.
The Breakers established an early rhythm, led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who posted a team-high 25 points (9/19 FG, 2/8 3pt) and eight assists.
The American point guard’s energy at both ends kept the Breakers within striking distance throughout the game.
Karim Lopez, the Breaker’s 17-year-old Mexican ‘Next Star’, entertained the home crowd with 18 points (8/14 FG), four rebounds, three assists, a steal and block, while Fall finished with 15 points (7/11 FG) and nine boards.
The Kings were helped by an outstanding performance from Kouat Noi, whose 26 points on an efficient 71 percent shooting (10-of-14) proved the difference.
Noi, Toohey and Adams’ high-percentage shooting kept Sydney, who trailed by seven points at the half, in the contest, closing within two after three periods.
Toohey finished with 21 points (9/15 FG) and 11 rebounds, while Adams messed around and almost got a triple-double, with 17 points (6/16 FG), eight boards and nine assists.
Head coach Petteri Koponen said it was tough to take another loss despite an improvement across the court.
“We lost our poise in the last few minutes and it was just the small details in the end, but we gave them a fight tonight,” he said.
“The guys feel it and you can see it in the locker room - this one hurts. We were close.
“We played much better but Sydney found the talent in the end. Overall, I’m proud of these guys. We keep competing, fighting and getting better.”
The Breakers now head across the Tasman for a Christmas Day showdown with Tasmania JackJumpers in Hobart on Wednesday (tip-off 8pm
NZ Time).