Breakers destroy Kings

The New Zealand Breakers have increased their buffer at the top of the NBL ladder with a comprehensive 93-64 victory over the Sydney Kings on Friday night.

Playing in front of a packed home crowd at Vector Arena, the Breakers outscored their opponents 27-20 during a dominant second term to open up a double-digit lead by half-time and were never seriously threatened from that point on.

Import Gary Wilkinson was the star for the Breakers with a team-high 18 points, while swingman Thomas Abercrombie (16 points) provided him with plenty of support.

For the Kings, big man Julian Khazzouh (20 points and eight rebounds) played a lone hand, with Anatoly Bose (13) the only player for the visitors to score in double figures.

The victory pushes the Breakers (14-5) a game clear at the top of the NBL ladder from second placed Perth (13-5), while the Kings (8-12) languish in seventh place.

In Friday night's other clash, Ayinde Ubaka came back to haunt his old club as he led the Wollongong Hawks to a 90-68 thrashing over the Melbourne Tigers.

Ubaka, who was released by the Tigers last week before joining the Hawks, helped himself to 15 points against his former team, while veterans Mat Campbell (17) and Glen Saville (13) also contributed strongly.

Liam Rush (18 points) and Ubaka's replacement Myron Allen (17 points, nine rebounds and six assists) tried hard for the Tigers, but it was to no avail.