The New Zealand Breakers have returned to the top of the NBL ladder after a convincing 97-76 victory over the Cairns Taipans at Vector Arena in Auckland on Thursday night.
After a tight first quarter ended with scores locked at 18-18, the hosts busted the game open in the second term to take a 14-point lead (51-37) at half-time.
New Zealand extended their advantage to 20 (72-52) at the final change and the margin swelled to a whopping 29 points (90-61) in the final quarter before the Breakers cruised to an easy win.
New Zealand guard Cedric Jackson was outstanding with 32 points, including a scintillating 11-13 (85 percent) from the field, as well as eight assists and three steals - all of which were game-high tallies.
Alex Pledger (13 points) and Dillon Boucher (10) were the Breakers' other double-digit scorers.
Jamar Wilson (18) was the best for the Taipans and he found help in the form of Shane Edwards (15) and Dusty Rychart (15).
The result saw New Zealand improve to a competition best 9-3 win-loss record, while the Taipans (4-7) remain in the bottom three and are starting to lose touch with the top four.
The Breakers don't play again until after the All-Star weekend against the 36ers at Adelaide Arena on December 28.
However, the Taipans only have three days to prepare for their next clash against fellow cellar dwellers the Tigers in Melbourne.