Basketball: Breakers battling without key duo

CJ Bruton. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Breakers are sweating on the return of guard CJ Bruton from injury after a lacklustre display on their pre-season tour of Australia.

The Breakers, without Bruton and NBA-bound Kirk Penney have been beaten 65-63 by the Sydney Kings.

Point guard Paul Henare says with both players out, they battled.

He says they were instrumental last year and without them they couldn't get their shooting going.

Henare says Bruton's likely to sit out most of the tour so he's fully fit for the season.

- NEWSTALK ZB