Star point guard Cedric Jackson says the New Zealand Breakers' main focus ahead of their final match of the regular season is simply making sure they win.
The Breakers host Cairns in Auckland on Sunday and need a 26-point victory to dislodge the Taipans from top spot heading into the NBL play-offs.
"A lot of people have asked us about the 26-point difference, but whatever happens happens," Jackson said.
"We're just trying to protect home court and trying to get this win."
It was Jackson's miracle bucket against Perth on Sunday that kept alive the Breakers' hopes of overhauling Cairns.
With the Breakers trailing and just 2.6 seconds left in double-overtime, he let fly from inside his own half of the court.
"I just threw the ball and drifted to the side, so I didn't really see the angle of it," he said.
"Then it went in. It was pretty amazing. It actually hit me the following morning that the shot went in."
It was the second time the point guard had landed a buzzer-beater from deep to win a match.
The first, in 2008 during his university days, was from farther out and helped Cleveland State beat Syracuse.
The earlier success wasn't something that came into his head as he lined up his attempt against Perth.
"But after I made that shot I immediately thought, man, I can't wait to talk to my college coaches about it," he said.
Three days earlier, Jackson had recorded his second triple-double of the season in the loss to Adelaide.
The twin feats earned him the league's player-of-the-week award for the second time this season.
For all the attention on him, Jackson was quick to praise back-court partner Corey Webster, who bagged 27 points against the Wildcats.
The haul eclipsed Webster's previous career-high haul of 26 against the 36ers last Thursday.
"He was the real hero," Jackson said.
"He led us to the win. He was unbelievable."
Share
