Gold Coast Blaze recorded a commanding 76-49 home win over Cairns Taipans on Sunday night at Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The Blaze produced its most lethal display to date to leapfrog Cairns into fourth spot.
In stark contrast, the Taipans were miserable as they crashed to the lowest score of any team so far this season.
It was a win built on defence as the Blaze shut down every Taipans option, dominated the paint (30-22), the rebounds (42-27) and ultimately the scoreboard.
Boomer Mark Worthington was the main destroyer with a game-high 17 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block, while international team-mate Adam Gibson contributed 10 points, six boards, four assists and three steals.
Anthony Petrie, playing his 100th NBL game, and import Adris ‘2Hard2Guard’ Deleon (both 10) joined them in double-figures.
Only Alex Loughton (12) could trouble the scoreboard for Cairns, with no other player coming close to reaching double-figures in a dismal showing from the far north Queenslanders.
Gold Coast Blaze 76 (Mark Worthington 17, Adam Gibson 10, Anthony Petrie 10, Adris Deleon 10)
Cairns Taipans 49 (Alex Loughton 12)
Crowd: 3,088 at Gold Coast Convention Centre