Basketball: Breakers' losing streak continues as Kings storm home

Breakers players react during the closing stages of their NBL game against the Sydney Kings. Photo: photosport

The Breakers showed signs of improvement, but late jitters cost them dearly in a 92-84 loss to the Sydney Kings as they crashed to a seventh-straight NBL defeat.

In front of a large home crowd in Auckland, the Breakers looked set to end their run of miserable form as they led by eight points early in the final quarter.

They were still up by five with less than three minutes on the clock, before the Kings went on a 16-3 run to cement their third placing on the standings, while the Breakers remained second-last in the 10-team league.

Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored a team-high 25 points, mixing it with eight assists as his energy drove their offence.

Athletic teenage forward Karim Lopez produced 18 points, while towering centre Tacko Fall showed signs he is settling into the Breakers' methods, with 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Breakers found it hard to contain Sydney forward Kouat Noi, who shot 10 from 14 from the field in his game-high 26 points.

Breakers 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 are away from home for their next game, a Christmas Day clash with the Tasmania JackJumpers on Wednesday.

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