Stellar efforts from imports Cedric Jackson and Ekene Ibekwe have put New Zealand Breakers halfway to clinching a fourth NBL title in five seasons following Friday night's 86-71 away win over minor premiers Cairns.
The Breakers took control with 13 unanswered points in the first quarter and responded after Cairns made a stirring third-quarter comeback.
Cairns slashed a 16-point halftime deficit to one by the final break, but New Zealand regained control in the final quarter.
They shot 75 per cent from the field in the first quarter and were at 63 per cent at halftime.
While the Breakers' shooting cooled off in the second half, they still finished at 52 per cent, while misfiring Cairns only converted 37 per cent and were 0 from 9 from three-point range in the first half.
A win in Game two of the Grand Final Series in Auckland on Sunday will clinch the best-of-three series for the Breakers.
Cairns, beaten in their only previous Grand Final appearance, were unable to reproduce the dominant defence and reliable offence that earned them the minor premiership.
They couldn't contain point guard Jackson, who tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, a block and a steal.
Ibekwe dominated down low, scoring 19 points on eight of ten field attempts and tallied eight rebounds and two blocks.
They got good support from Tom Abercrombie with 13 and guard Rhys Carter, who provided spark off the bench with 12 points on five-of-seven shooting.
Point guard Scottie Wilbekin led the Taipans scorers with 16 while captain Cameron Gliddon notched 13, Matt Burston 11 and Alex Loughton 10.
Earlier on Friday, Cairns picked up two awards, with Aaron Fearne getting coach of the year and veteran forward Cameron Tragardh sixth man of the year.
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