NZ Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie has reportedly suffered a serious eye injury just seconds into his team's 81-69 pre-season loss to Brisbane Bullets at Darwin.
Scrambling for a loose ball on defence, the veteran small forward copped an elbow from former NBA centre Aaron Baynes and immediately called for a substitute, never to return to the game.
ESPN reports Abercrombie, 35, has suffered a torn retina and is returning to Auckland for "emergency surgery". A prolonged absence would be devastating news for the club stalwart, who missed most of last season with a side strain.
Despite his early exit, the Breakers built a 10-point after the opening quarters, but went scoreless for almost five minutes of the second period, as the Bullets went on a 19-3 spree.
Ahead by six points at halftime, Brisbane were never challenged thereafter, extending their lead to 19 points midway through the final quarter.
Tall Blacks forward Tom Vodanovich, who won a title with Sydney Kings last season, led the Breakers with 15 points, while French teen Rayan Rupert scored 12 points, before fouling out. Gisborne-born Baynes and former NBA guard Tyler Johnson had 14 points each for the Bullets.
The Auckland-based club shot just 35 percent from the field, including 8/33 from beyond the arc, and struggled to keep players on the court, with point guard William McDowell-White unable to suit up, Abercrombie leaving with injury, Rupert and American Dererk Pardon fouling out, and centre Rob Loe drawing his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter.
The Breakers face Illawarra Hawks on Tuesday in their second game of the Australian NBL blitz.
Brisbane Bullets 82 (Baynes 14, Johnson 14, Mitchell 12) NZ Breakers 69 (Vodanovich 15, Rupert 12, Brantley 10, Loe 10)
