The Sydney Kings are prepared for the worst after star import Josh Childress injured his left hand during the NBL side's first game under new coach Joe Connelly.
Childress, who has spent most of the season on the sideline after breaking his right hand, scored only four points in the Kings' 101-83 loss against the Cairns Taipans on Friday night.
Connelly said Childress, who was only on his second game back, suffered the injury in the first quarter before being forced to take a seat during the second.
"The pain was too bad and he couldn't even make a fist," Connelly said after the game at the Cairns Convention Centre.
"The Physio is going to take a look at it and see what happens from here.
"We're hoping for the best but we'll be preparing for the worst."
The loss and partial absence of Childress put a dampener on Connelly's first week in charge of the Kings.
The former Washington Wizards NBA assistant took the reins on Monday after Damian Cotter was sacked by the struggling team.
The new coach has decided to take the loss "on the chin" and says he's still positive about the Kings' chances of turning around the season.
"A lot of those turnovers tonight were unforced errors where.. it was because of us making some bad decisions," he said
"You take those points away and it's a different ball game."
Imports Torrey Craig and Markel Starks rose to the occasion for the Taipans, scoring 20 and 18 points respectively.
Taipans Captain Cameron Gliddon said players had made an attitude adjustment since a disappointing loss to the Townsville Crocodiles on Wednesday.
"If we were going to come out and play like we did on Wednesday I wouldn't have liked to be at training with him (Head Coach Aaron Fearne) on Monday," he said.
By the end of the first quarter, the Snakes were up 33-21 and kept control to be up 51-44 at the main break.
They were strong until the end of the third (72-63) before powering home to victory.
The win leaves the Taipans sixth on the NBL ladder ahead of their next game on Friday against the Illawarra Hawks.
The Kings remain last, also with a week's rest, before playing the New Zealand Breakers.
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