The NZ Breakers' hot start to the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) season is now just a distant memory.
The Breakers endured another challenging night, losing their fifth straight game, 100-76 to the defending champion Tasmania JackJumpers at Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday night.
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Despite flashes of promise, the Breakers struggled to contain the JackJumpers’ offence as the visitors delivered their fifth straight win.
Tasmania shot 53 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc, while their bench contributed 56 points.
The Breakers were led by American centre Tacko Fall, getting his first start, who posted a team-high 16 points (6/6 FG, 4/7 FT), with four rebounds, a block and drawing eight fouls.
Point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright contributed 11 points (4/10 FG), four assists and two steals in 30 minutes, while the third import Matt Mooney added 13 points (6/15 FG) and three rebounds off the bench.
Shooting struggles plagued the Breakers throughout the game, particularly from three-point range, where they managed just 4-of-29 (13 percent).
The JackJumpers were spearheaded by Jordon Crawford and Sean Macdonald, who scored 24 and 17 points, respectively.
Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen said it was a tough night where they created good scoring options but couldn’t get their shots to fall.
“I felt we tried, but it wasn’t our day. Basketball sometimes is so simple. They made their shots and we couldn’t find a bucket today,” he said.
“Confidence is a tricky thing sometimes and we need to see the ball go through the hoop, get some confidence and see the guys believe again.
“We need something extra from everyone and need to keep fighting together with that underdog mentality.”
The Breakers opened the ANBL season 6-2 - a stretch which included three games against NBA teams in an attention-grabbing tour to the US - but have since early November have dropped six of their last seven.
The Breakers have not won since cutting loose American big Freddie Gillespie to bring in Fall on November 17, following a road win over the Cairns Taipans.
The Breakers now travel across the Tasman for a match-up against the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm NZT).
Tasmania JackJumpers 100 (Jordon Crawford 24, Sean Macdonald 17, Craig Sword 13, Milton Doyle 10) NZ Breakers 76 (Tacko Fall 16, Matt Mooney 13, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 11). 1Q: 29-19, HT: 59-42, 3Q: 78-63