The New Zealand Breakers are back on top of the Australian basketball league after the previous NBL leaders Wollongong crashed to their second defeat of the season at the end of round nine.
The Hawks were beaten 76-66 by the Taipans in Cairns to go one win behind the Breakers, who have also lost twice but have won eight games to Wollongong's seven.
The Breakers visit the Sydney Kings on Saturday night, the start of a tough December-January holiday run that sees the back-to-back champions play five of their six games on the road - including four straight.
