An emotionally charged Melbourne Tigers restored respect but could not stop the New Zealand Breakers basketballers soaring to a record six-match ANBL winning streak on the back of a 101-91 victory at the North Shore Events Centre.
Melbourne challenged the championship favourites throughout but their downfall came in the final period with the Breakers depth and rotations prevailing as the Tigers fell to 8-12.
It was far from a vintage performance from the Breakers, who lifted to an exceptional 16-3 for the season and 8-1 in Auckland.
But they, yet again, produced the goods when it counted after a sloppy first half display.
Dillon Boucher epitomised the gutsy effort when he left the court after cutting his head open only to return with rugby-like bandaging.
Kirk Penney top scored for the Breakers with 24 points, hitting 5-of-7 (71 percent) from beyond the arc.
Gary Wilkinson chimed in with 22 points, but CJ Bruton's 16-point contribution was invaluable.
Meanwhile, the second placed Perth Wildcats have broken their losing streak, returning to form in devastating fashion crushing the Sydney Kings 98-84 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre to cement their place in the top four.
Kings' import Trey Gilder led all scorers with 21 points, while Patrick Sanders (20) and Julian Khazzouh, who managed a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds), were also valuable contributors for the home side.
Kevin Lisch (18) was the defending champion Wildcats' best with Cameron Tovey, Brad Robbins and Jesse Wagstaff all the next best with 12 each.
