Undermanned and underpowered, the New Zealand Breakers have slumped to a third straight defeat playing without suspended guard Corey Webster who faces a court appearance over an alleged assault.

The Breakers sorely missed the offensive production of last season's top scorer although new starting point guard David Stockton gets his first double double in the league with 24 points and 10 dimes, but it was all too little and too late as they were outgunned 95-91 by the red-hot Illawarra Hawks led by the in-form Rotnei Clarke with 22.