The New Zealand Breakers took an important step towards reaching the NBL play-offs with a hustling 85-74 home win over the Cairns Taipans.
The result, which ends the sixth-placed Taipans' slim post-season hopes, lifts the Breakers level with the Adelaide 36ers in fourth place.
Both teams share the same 14-12 win-loss record with two games remaining, setting up an exciting duel for the last play-off spot next week.
The defending champion Breakers' third-straight win was built on a committed defensive display and the three-pronged scoring threat of forward Thomas Abercrombie (19 points) and guards Corey Webster (18) and Cedrick Jackson (15).
Leading by one point with a quarter remaining, the Breakers dominated the final stanza, with US import Jackson's control and scoring proving vital.
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Coming off a 106-84 win in Adelaide, the Breakers struggled for early consistency. They led by nine points during the first quarter but found themselves 12 points behind near the end of the second.
Captain Mika Vukona's nine rebounds helped them dominate that facet but Jackson's 11 assists was among the most important individual statistic as the Breakers offence begins to show signs of humming.
The Taipans' scoring was led by forward Torrey Craig (15) and guard Cameron Gliddon (13).
The Breakers finish with two games against league leaders Melbourne, in Auckland on Friday and Melbourne on Sunday.
Adelaide's schedule is also taxing, away to third-place Illawarra and second-placed Perth.
