The New Zealand Breakers' shaky NBL title defence has suffered another big blow with starting centre Alex Pledger ruled out for up to four weeks.
Pledger rolled his ankle in training and will be missing as the Kings begin the first of four straight matches on the road when they face the fourth-placed Sydney Kings on Sunday.
Coach Dean Vickerman says there's plenty of disappointment over the injury to Pledger, but the Breakers have back-up in American import Gary Wilkinson.
"This is not the way Alex wanted to start the second half of the season," he said.
"He has just come right from an injury to one ankle and now he sprains the other one."
The Breakers, who are chasing a fourth title in a row, are sitting bottom of the table with a 4-9 record.
Vickerman said the Breakers would now be a smaller unit and it was important for other players to take over the rebounding that the 2.15-metre Pledger was noted for.
