15 Jan 2024

Breakers drop to second-last after humbling in Sydney

10:18 am on 15 January 2024
Mody Maor, head coach of the Breakers.

Mody Maor, head coach of the Breakers. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Breakers coach Mody Maor says his team will "flush" their heavy 105-76 loss to the Sydney Kings and focus on reviving their ailing NBL campaign.

The New Zealand outfit were outclassed from the outset by their fourth-placed opponents in Sydney, leaving them with an 8-12 record in second-last place and with work ahead to reclaim the top six playoff berth they had been enjoying just last month.

Up 63-34 at halftime, and up by as much as 38 at one point, the Kings felt relaxed enough to rest some of the best players for large chunks of the closing period

For Sydney, former MVP Jaylen Adams scored 39 points in just 27 minutes before being pulled, having sunk six three-pointers.

By contrast, the Breakers' top scorer was Izaya Le'afa, as imports Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Anthony Lamb were well contained.

"The perfect storm exists," Maor said.

"Catch us a bit unready ... we miss a few shots, they shoot 70 per cent from three in the first quarter, most of them off the dribble.

"Some nights go like this; we'll flush this one down the toilet and prepare for the next."

They will host fellow strugglers South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday.