The brilliant Kendric Davis has starred as Sydney consolidated top spot on the NBL ladder with a titanic 111-102 triumph over a brave New Zealand in double overtime.
Davis racked up 36 points and nine assists at Sydney's Afterpay Arena on Sunday, willing the Kings to victory after the game was tied 87-87 after four quarters and 96-96 after the first extension.
At the other end, ex-King Kouat Noi scored 27 of his equal career-high 32 points after three-quarter time, almost single-handedly steering the Breakers to a memorable upset.
Noi's fourth three-pointer of the fourth quarter squared the scores, before NZ forced a shot-clock to bring on overtime.
Davis missed a floater for the win in the last second of the first extra period, before Sydney finally shook off the Breakers' gritty resistance in the second extension.
Torrey Craig posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, while surprise starter Tyler Robertson added 16.
Dejan Vasiljevic scored 22 for the Breakers, while Charles Bediako paired 18 with 10 rebounds. Carlin Davison just missed his second triple-double in three days, compiling 11 points, 15 assists and nine boards.
"The game was really important - not only winning, but how we won," Sydney coach Brian Goorjian said after his team bounced back impressively having blown a 26-point lead in Cairns on Friday.
"We got the full gauntlet tonight - a knockdown, drag-out.
"Excited, but also relieved."
The Kings held a narrow 21-20 lead at the first change, even if Matthew Dellavedova's swished prayer from beyond halfway came fractionally after the quarter-time siren.
Sydney used a 12-0 run to break clear 31-20, before Vasiljevic piloted an NZ revival.
The in-form sniper, who scored 36 against Brisbane 48 hours earlier, hit three threes in as many minutes, spearheading a 13-2 response.
When Bediako converted on the halftime bell, it was 45-45.
The nip-and-tuck nature continued in the third term, which featured eight lead changes and ended with the Kings up 65-64.
They were aided by some 'own goals' from the Breakers, who inexplicably missed 12 of their first 16 free-throw attempts, with Bediako the worst offender with 0-of-7.
Noi, unsighted for three quarters and fairly inconspicuous all season, then exploded from out of nowhere, burying a string of huge buckets to give the reigning champions a scare and ensure the fans were treated to an all-time classic.
"Disappointed, but at the same time proud," NZ coach Gordie Herbert said.
"We were down and we kept fighting.
"The crowd got their money's worth, and the coaches got a bit older."
