For the first time this season, the Sydney Kings have lost two games in a row. For the first time this season they, in a way, look fallible.

After losing to Perth in an offensive shootout on Friday night, the Kings hosted an out-of-form New Zealand side in front of a huge crowd at Qudos Bank Arena – only to fall by five points late in the game.

The Breakers took advantage of a poor shooting performance from the home side to run out as the victors – they also finished the game leading the rebound, assist and block counts.

Sydney head coach Chase Buford believes his side lost themselves the game with the poor inside shooting performance - as they shot just 40 per cent from inside the three-point line.

“It’s hard to beat anybody when you miss as many point-blank shots at the rim as we did. When you miss as many free throws – especially down the stretch – as we did,” Buford said post-game.

“I think we locked ourselves down. We missed more layups and shots in the paint than they took. We missed 25 in the paint and they took 24.

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“That’s not going to happen very often for us or for any team.

“I think we had just as much to do with it with just missing bunnies … there were a bunch of those tonight.

“We fought hard and we competed and we gave ourselves a chance, and they bank one in.

“That’s how the game goes sometimes.”

Welcome all 14,232 of you! #WeTheKings pic.twitter.com/joOt2yx0Ra

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) January 22, 2023

The Kings remain on top of the ladder after round 16, but they are now just one game ahead of a fast-finishing Cairns side that has won six of its last seven games.

Sydney next takes to the floor on Friday night, when the side travels to Tasmania to take on the JackJumpers.

Then two days later, the Kings return to Qudos Bank Arena for their final home game of the regular season against South East Melbourne. 

Tickets to the fixture, which tips off at 4pm AEDT and is part of a Hoops Capital double-header, are still available here.