Basketball: Serbia hand Tall Blacks crushing loss

Tall Blacks assistant coach Chris Tupu. Photo / Supplied

The Tall Blacks have suffered a crushing defeat at basketball's Adecco Cup in Slovenia, losing 95-69 to Serbia.

Just a day earlier they beat Slovenia 104-103, but the double overtime of that game took its toll on the Kiwis against Serbia.

But assistant coach Chris Tupu was at pains not to use tiredness as an excuse.

"We've got to get used to it. If tiredness was the case we need to be ready for it as we have to play back-to-back at the world champs in a couple of weeks' time," he said.

"We also have to deal with the fact Kirk [Penney] is going to get a lot of attention, too."

Shooter Kirk Penney put them on the board first with a pair of free throws, and Tom Abercrombie had them ahead 4-2 moments later.

But the next three possessions resulted in turnovers and the landslide began as Serbia went on a 24-1 run.

For the rest of the half, New Zealand battled to stay within 20 points, and Serbia led 59-40 at the break.

Pero Cameron collected his fourth foul less than a minute into the second half and was again forced to the bench.

The sharpshooting tandem of Penney and Jones found a little space and began to whittle away at the lead, getting to within 12 points.

But Serbia dug in to shut New Zealand out.

Tupu said, "Sixty-nine points: it's enough points to win an international game. Our defence let us down tonight."

- NZPA