New Zealand Breaks: Kouat Noi leads 41-point blowout

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The New Zealand Breakers were flat out terrible – and the 103-62 score line reflected it.

They couldn't have picked a worse time either with the injury depleted Sydney Kings flying over the Tasman for what should have been a tough road game.

Instead it was 41-point blow-out and the Breakers would have had trouble throwing into the Tasman.

The Kings went to 14-9 and the Breakers dropped to 8-15 and into 8th on the ladder.

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The Kings were without Xavier Cooks, recovering from an ankle injury and still working through what to do with a roster spot now that Bul Kuol is out for the rest of the season with an ACL.

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 103 def. New Zealand Breakers 62
• When: Thursday, 9th January 2026
• Where: Spark Arena, Auckland
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings) starred with 18 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes.
• Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers) scored 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early control but truly broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Breakers 27-4 to take a commanding 50-21 halftime lead. That dismal four-point second quarter from New Zealand effectively ended any hopes of a competitive contest, as Sydney's balanced offensive attack overwhelmed the home side.

New Zealand briefly kept pace in the opening quarter, trailing by just six points at 23-17, but their offense completely collapsed in the second period. The Kings capitalised ruthlessly on every Breakers miscue, launching a devastating 22-0 scoring run that stretched their advantage to insurmountable proportions before the halftime break.

Kouat Noi provided the spark off the bench for Sydney, delivering an efficient 8-from-15 shooting performance from the field. His 53% shooting, combined with two triples from downtown, exemplified the Kings' clinical execution throughout the contest. Jaylin Galloway added 16 points with exceptional 71% field goal shooting, while Tim Soares and Makuach Maluach each contributed 15 points in the comprehensive team effort.

The Kings' superior shooting ability proved decisive across all facets of the game. Sydney connected on 52% of their field goal attempts compared to New Zealand's poor 34% shooting, while their three-point accuracy of 41% dwarfed the Breakers' dismal 16% from beyond the arc. The visitors also dominated the boards 48-39 and dished out 22 assists to the Breakers' 13, showcasing their superior ball movement and offensive chemistry.

For the Breakers, Karim Lopez's 11 points led a disappointing offensive display that saw no player reach double digits beyond him. Parker Jackson-Cartwright, typically the team's primary playmaker, managed just three points on woeful 1-from-9 shooting, epitomising New Zealand's struggles throughout the contest. The 41-point defeat represents one of the most comprehensive losses in recent NBL history at Spark Arena.