Jerome Randle has shown why he's a former NBL MVP with a five-star display in Sydney's comprehensive home win over the New Zealand Breakers.
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The makeshift back-court combination of Jerome Randle and Kyle Adnam sparked the Kings to Sunday evening's crushing 100-87 defeat of the Breakers at Qudos Bank Arena.
Called into the starting five after two-time NBL MVP Kevin Lisch was a late withdrawal, back-up playmaker Adnam answered with 14 points, three assists and zero turnovers in 26 minutes.
Randle was superb with 24 points, five assists and five rebounds, two-time Olympian Brad Newley (14) had one of his best games of the season, while former NBA star Andrew Bogut tormented the Breakers from the start with 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks.
Lisch (jaw injury) was rested after copping an accidental knock from teammate Dane Pineau on Saturday at training.
Sydney shot at 62 per cent, delighting Kings coach Andrew Gaze.
"That was pretty good. Offensively, we were very efficient.
"Our intensity and our balance in what we were doing was very good and I liked our willingness to share the ball.
"It was a setback to lose Kevin but the beauty of our team is people stepping up.
"Kyle was exceptional. It's his birthday today and he really stepped up."
American centre Shawn Long led the visitors with 25 points and Patrick Richard had 18.
The Kings led at every change and by 19 in the third quarter.
Newley and Randle paced the Kings with a collective 15 points in the first period, while the 2.13m Bogut also showed off his clever passing with three assists.
The Kings took a 24-21 lead into the second quarter. Bogut was firmly on track for a triple-double, helping his team to a 52-39 halftime lead.
Sydney go to a 5-3 record to stay third on the ladder, while the Breakers drop to 4-5.
"They (Kings) played exceptionally well," Breakers coach Kevin Braswell said.
"We gave them a lot of confidence by giving them a lot of lay-ups in the first quarter.
"We've made some strides in the last few weeks but our group is new and still getting to know each other."
The Kings expect Lisch back for Saturday's road clash with titleholders Melbourne United. New Zealand are at home on Friday night to ladder leaders Perth.
Australian Associated Press
