High-flying NZ Breakers have come crashing back to earth with back-to-back defeats, as they drop from the top of the Aussie NBL table.
The home side never led after the opening minutes and trailled by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, falling 88-81 to defending champions Sydney Kings at Auckland's Spark Arena.
American Derrick Walton Jr led all scorers with 21 points for the Kings, including four three-pointers, while centre Xavier Cooks compiled a double-double of 18 pooints/11 rebounds for the visitors.
After riding a five-game winning streak to the top of the competition, the Breakers have now suffered consecutive setbacks - both at home - to Perth Wildcats and the Kings.
Guard Izayah Le'afa scored 17 points, including five three pointers, with backcourt mate Will McDowell-White contributing 16, with four from beyond the arc, and eight assists, as all five Breakers starters scored in double figures.
But they received little support from their bench, outscored 18-10 by the Sydney reserves, as the visitors also dominated rebounds, especially at the defensive end to limit second-chance opportunities.
The Breakers forced eight turnovers in the fourth quarter and closed within four points with two minutes remaining to raise hopes of a late comeback, but Walton's dagger three with 1m 09s on the clock extinguished those hopes.
"We played against the best version of the Sydney Kings and we played well in the second half, it's not the same thing," said Breakers coach Mody Maor.
"We didn’t start the game with the right intensity and we didn’t start the game with the right discipline on defence.
"We gave up 34 points in the first quarter - that's not something you can do and win against the defending champions."
The Breakers are now scheduled for three road games, beginning with Perth next Friday and winding up at Glenorchy, Tasmania on Boxing Day.
Sydney Kings 88 (Walton Jr 21, Cooks 18, Simon 14, Soares 11) NZ Breakers 81 (Le'afa 17, McDowell-White 16, Brown Jr 15, Brantley 12, Pardon 11)
