Basketball: Tall Blacks fade for second Brazil loss

New Zealand slumped in the final quarter to lose their second men's basketball international against Brazil 83-101 in Brasilia this morning.

The Tall Blacks have gone two-down in the four match series following their 89-105 defeat at Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

After trailing by a signficant margin for much of today's game, the Tall Blacks had a scent of victory when they pulled the deficit back to 69-73 at three-quarter time. However, the hosts slotted the first 10 points of the final quarter, which they dominated 28-14.

After being kept quiet in the first half, Phoenix Suns NBA guard Leandro Barbosa burst to life for Brazil in the final stanza to finish with 24 points.

However, Tall Blacks small forward Kirk Penney was the game's top scorer with 28.

New Zealand were without captain Pero Cameron, who was sidelined with a viral infection, and point guard Mark Dickel, who continues his recovery from tendonitis in his knee.

The visitors put up more shots but their percentages were lower than Brazil's, particularly from beyond the three-point line, where they managed just five from 22. Brazil also dominated the rebounds, 45 to 23.

The third game is on Friday.

- NZPA