Shooting guard Corey Webster's inspired his New Zealand Breakers back to winning ways against the struggling Sydney Kings at Olympic Park in Sydney.
Webster finished with a game-high 38 points as the Breakers won 93-83, to sweep their series against the Kings 4-0 for the first time in their history in the Australian basketball league.
Corey Webster's got plenty to smile about Photo: Photosport
Sydney, usually a powerhouse of the league, are bottom of the NBL, but have been ravaged by injury.
However, that should take nothing away from Webster's big night out.
The Tall Black almost equalled his career-high tally of 39, which he earned last month against Melbourne United, shooting four from 10 from the three-point line and 12 from 24 from regulation distance - as well as 10 out of 10 from the charity stripe.
Assistant Breakers coach Paul Henare was full of praise for Webster, who's also under his wing as the New Zealand head coach.
Henare said Webster stepped up well on defence, while the 26 points he scored in the second half came when his team really needed him to fire.
"Corey was unreal. He didn't go crazy in the first half but he looked to have an intent, almost a look in his eye that he was in for a big day."
It was just as well Webster stepped up, as Cedric Jackson had another quiet night with just four points, though the American import grabbed eight rebounds and three steals.
Both teams lost last time out to the Illawarra Hawks, but it was the champion Breakers who bounced back stronger.
A big 14-point swing in the third quarter made the difference after the scores were tied at 38-38 at half-time, the Breakers then racing out to a 70-56 lead.
The Aucklanders remain second behind arch-rivals Perth heading into their New Year's Eve road game in Cairns, however the Breakers have two games in hand on the Wildcats.
Henare was also rapt with his team's 19 from 21 success from the free-throw line.
"It was great, obviously it's been a work-on of ours and (Alex) Pledger gets there and goes six for six, Corey obviously goes 10 from 10," Henare said.
"You talk about wanting to improve throughout the season, that's an area that we've been asking for and where we got it done."
Meanwhile, Breakers swingman Tom Abercrombie's signed on with the champion Southland Sharks in the local National Basketball League.
Injuries hurt Kings
Sydney's 40-year-old assistant coach Ben Knight was forced to come out of retirement for Sunday's defeat.
The former skipper suited back up to make his 400th NBL appearance following the season-ending injury to forward star Julian Khazzouh last week.
Knight retired from the league with knee problems more than four years ago.
The Kings have just four wins from 18 games this season and sacked coach Damien Cotter last month, replacing him with Joe Connolly.
