The Sydney Kings have come from behind to preserve their unbeaten start to the NBL season with a 76-66 win over the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland.
Scoring was hard to come by for both sides in a defensive slugfest as the Breakers slumped to their second defeat in as many games.
Andrew Bogut, the league's reigning Most Valuable Player, had his way on the boards as he collected 16 rebounds to go with his 13 points for the Kings.
There were suggestions that Bogut has been nursing a back injury recently but it didn't appear to hold him back, while import guard Casper Ware was also influential with 17 points as Sydney moved to 4-0.
The Kings started hot and built an early lead but the defensive intensity of Breakers import Brandon Ashley helped the home side compete.
On the back of some improved shooting, the Breakers established a small lead as they took a 45-40 advantage to halftime.
Keeping with the see-saw theme of the contest, the Kings fought their way back into the game in the third quarter as Ashley got into foul trouble.
With the game poised at 63-63 with five minutes to play, the Kings made some crucial baskets, including a clutch three from reserve centre Daniel Kickert, while the Breakers went cold.
Corey Webster, playing his 200th NBL game, top-scored for the Breakers with 14 points but his team only managed eight points in the fourth quarter, which proved costly.
AAP.
