The Tasmania JackJumpers' NBL season is threatening to slip away after the Sydney Kings handed the reigning champions their fifth loss in six games.
More than a third of the way through the season, the JackJumpers (3-7) are only off the bottom of the NBL ladder on for-and-against following their hefty 88-60 loss in Sydney on Sunday.
It also marked the JackJumpers' fewest points in a game since their introduction into the league for the 2021-22 season.
The visitors did well to restrict the Kings' star contingent despite the absence of their own star key man Will Magnay (shoulder), who failed a pregame fitness test.
Former league MVP Xavier Cooks (10 points, seven rebounds) managed only two points before the final change, while Jaylen Adams failed to land a field goal playing his second game since a back injury.
But Tasmania once again struggled to find points of their own, restricted to below 80 for a seventh time this season despite putting up more shots than the Kings.
The JackJumpers shot at only 31 percent from the field.
Diminutive guard Jordon Crawford (12 points) was the JackJumpers' only consistent scoring threat, with the remaining four starters combining for only 25 points.
Things won't get any easier for the JackJumpers in their title defence as an away trip to Perth and the ladder-leading New Zealand Breakers await in the next week.
The Kings' win snaps a three-game losing streak that had knocked the championship fancies off course early in Brian Goorjian's first season back in Sydney.
Kouat Noi managed a game-high 26 points that included five consecutive three-pointers.
The forward rejoiced in entertaining the crowd, running to the courtside seats to high-five a punter following one of his successful triples.
Noi capped a fantastic afternoon with a one-handed dunk as the final minute approached.
Tasmania managed to cut the lead back to single digits in the third term, but when Cameron Oliver nailed a tip-in just after the final change, the lead was 21 points and the JackJumpers appeared out of the contest.