Kiwi centre Steven Adams has struggled in his opening game of the new NBA season, as the Oklahoma City Thunder fell 100-95 to the Utah Jazz.
After losing All-Star guards Russell Westbrook and Paul George during the off-season, the Thunder rolled out a newlook line-up for the road game, but gave their hosts a run for their money, leading by as many as eight points early in the final quarter, before succuming.
Adams is now the longest-serving OKC player on the roster and is expected to make big improvements this season, after Westbrook's departure, in particular.
But confronted by Jazz centre Rudy Gobert - the reigning three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year - Adams struck early foul trouble and was held to just three points off one-from-eight shooting and one from six at the free-throw line, while grabbing 11 rebounds.
Two of his free-throw misses gifted the Salt Lake City crowd free chicken as part of a sponsor promotion.
The international rivals battled each other to a standstill, with Gobert also held to seven points and 14 rebounds.
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26 points, while counterpart Donovan Mitchell had 32 points for the Jazz, who are expected to challenge for the Western Conference title.
Oklahoma City host Washington Wizards on Saturday (NZ time).
Newshub.