Oliver sends early message with Kings

He is already a proven NBL commodity but Cam Oliver looks ready to take the league by storm once more delivering 17 points and nine rebounds first up as the Sydney Kings beat the New Zealand Breakers 120-76.

Oliver was a star at the Cairns Taipans named to the All-Second Team on a Snakes outfit that went to the semi finals back in NBL20. Now upon his return down under, the first glimpse of him in Sydney colours was ominous.

With championship captain and MVP Xavier Cooks back alongside him in the front court too, the pair combined for 28 points and 14 rebounds in just over 30 minutes.

The Kings dominated the Breakers on Friday night at the Quaycentre to lead by as much as 48 points before winning by 44.

Sydney were close to full strength in the first game of the return of legendary coach Brian Goorjian with Bul Kuol and Jaylin Galloway the only absentees.

The Breakers have a new coach too with the arrival of Petteri Koponen. He had a full squad available aside from Matt Mooney but it's a decidedly new look team with Parker Jackson-Cartwright the only returnee who played major minutes in NBL24.

Former Breaker Izayah Le'afa, Alex Toohey and Xavier Cooks all helped Sydney to the flying 19-7 start before Kouat Noi hit a three to push the margin out to double-figures.

The Kings were then up 29-16 by quarter-time and piled on another 31 points in the second quarter and went into half-time leading 60-32 with just one turnover and shooting 61 per cent.

The Breakers did start the second half well to get the margin back under 20, but a timeout from Brian Goorjian clicked the Kings back into gear as they took back control to end up winning by 44.

Sydney shot 63 per cent for the game with Kouat Noi top-scoring with 19 points on the back of his NBL1 North season at the Darwin Salties.

Cam Oliver had 17 points and nine boards in under 19 minutes and Xavier cooks 11 points and five boards in less than 13.

Young gun Keli Leaupepe had 16 points on 6/8 shooting with Makuach Maluach contributing 14 points and five assists, Tyler Robertson 14 points and four assists, Alex Toohey 12 points and three steals, and Shaun Bruce 10 assists.

Former Next Star Mojave King top-scored for New Zealand with 22 points with 4/9 three-point shooting while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 15 points and six assists, Mitch McCarron 13 points and four rebounds, and Sam Mennenga nine points.

It's the lone pre-season game for both teams before the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast which will see the Kings begin against the Cairns Taipans on Monday September 9. New Zealand's first hit out is on Sunday against the Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL PRE-SEASON

SYDNEY KINGS 120 (Noi 19, Oliver 17, Leaupepe 16)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 76 (King 22, Jackson-Cartwright 15, McCarron 13)

BOX SCORE