A huge effort by Sam Mennenga as he put up a career-best 29 points as the NZ Breakers won at home over the Tasmania JackJumpers.
It was the lowest-scoring first quarter for Tasmania with just eight points, but a comeback in the second and third had them in contention, but not enough as the Breakers prevailed 95-85 at Auckland's Spark Arena on Thursday night.
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The Breakers welcomed back superstar point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright after a five-game suspension against a JackJumpers team without Majok Deng, Will Magnay and Sean Macdonald.
It had the potential for Tacko Fall to dominate inside for the home team with Tasmania missing big men Magnay and Deng, but it ended up being Mennenga who took the most advantage for a career-best night.
It was a rollercoaster affair with Breakers dominating the first quarter to lead 19-8 but the visitors making 37 points for their highest ever scoring second quarter with Jordon Crawford putting up 17 of those in a stunning turnaround.
The JackJumpers ended up leading by as much as 10 early in the third quarter, but the Breakers worked back led by Mennenga from there and then dominated the fourth term.
The outscored Tasmania 24-13 in the last 10 minutes to score their second win in their last 14 minutes to improve to a 9-15 record.
It's a first win at home for the Breakers since November 2 against Adelaide with Mennenga producing 29 points and nine rebounds on a remarkably efficient 13/15 shooting including 3/4 from downtown.
'Next Star' Karim Lopez had another 17 points and two blocks with Matt Mooney adding 11 points and 11 assists, Fall 11 points and seven rebounds, and the returning Jackson-Cartwright eight points, six boards and five assists.
The loss from the JackJumpers leaves the door open for the Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets with them now 12-12 with Crawford finishing with 26 points and four assists.
Fabijan Krslovic also 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, Milton Doyle 10 points, six boards and five assists, and Anthony Drmic nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Jackson-Cartwright was back from suspension for the home side and made the perfect start stealing Tasmania's development player Nick Stoddart to score the game's first points.
The Breakers would soon score eight straight points before Matt Mooney knocked down a three, and Tacko Fall made a couple of buckets and the Breakers led 19-8 after one on the back of 60 per cent shooting and forcing Tasmania into eight turnovers.
Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford were kept scoreless in the opening stanza, but that changed dramatically in the second stanza.
Clint Steindl got the ball rolling for the defending champions when he knocked down a three but then Crawford got going with 10 quick points to fire the JackJumpers right back into the contest.
Tasmania then closed out the first half with the last 11 points with Doyle and Crawford scoring nine of those which saw them turn a 13-point deficit into six-point half-time lead after their best ever second period.
Steindl landed another three to start the second half for the JackJumpers to stretch their lead to nine points but the Breakers fired back and it was Mennenga leading their charge.
He scored 10 points on his own in the quarter and then Fall came on for a couple of quick buckets, but still a triple from Crawford just before three quarter-time saw the JackJumpers leading 62-61.
Mennenga regained the lead for the Breakers with his third three-pointer of the game to open the fourth and the Breakers ended up starting the term with an 11-2 run with Mennenga putting up seven of those.
The Breakers lead was back out to double-figures with four minutes to play thanks to Matt Mooney hitting a three ball and from there the Breakers got the job done to win by 10.
The Breakers now head to Melbourne to play the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday while the JackJumpers go to Sydney to play a rested Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon.
NZ Breakers 85 (Sam Mennenga 29, Karim Lopez 17, Matt Mooney 11, Tacko Fall 11) Tasmania JackJumpers 75 (Jordon Crawford 26, Fabijan Krslovic 14, Milton Doyle 10)