NZ Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright in action. Photo: Photosport
The Breakers spurned a lead late in the game to suffer their first loss of the NBL season, beaten 89-84 by the Brisbane Bullets in Auckland on Thursday night.
After opening their campaign with a 98-87 defeat of the Cairns Taipans on home court, the Breakers couldn't repeat the dose five days later, failing to get the necessary control in the paint and to shut down veteran Brisbane guard Nathan Sobey.
Sobey produced a game-high 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds, getting support from New Zealand centre Tyrell Harrison whose 12 points and eight rebounds amplified the visitors' edge in the close exchanges.
American guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright top-scored for the Breakers for the second straight game, posting 20 points, while Will McDowell-White bagged 19 in his first appearance of the season.
The Breakers missed the presence of Tall Blacks forward Finn Delany, who was ruled out with injury.
Trailing at each break, the Breakers kept themselves close and forged a three-point lead midway through the final stanza.
Brisbane recovered and secured a second win from two games when in the dying seconds when import Chris Smith sunk with a fall-away shot.
The Breakers now leave for the United States where they will play friendly games against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 11 and Utah Jazz on October 17.
Their next NBL game is away to Melbourne United on October 22.
- RNZ