The New Zealand Breakers have overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the Townsville Crocodiles 96-84 in Auckland and cement their position atop the National Basketball League.
A 12th win from 16 games keeps the Auckland club clear of rivals Cairns and Perth and leaves the Crocodiles in sixth place.
Guard Corey Webster scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the second half as the Breakers won for the eighth time in their last nine games and improved their home record to 7-1.
A squeezing defence proved the difference as the game wore on after the Crocodiles led 26-18 at the first quarter mark and quickly stretched it to 35-21.
Trailing 50-44 at halftime, the Breakers restricted the visitors to 14 points in the third quarter to lead by a point and scored 31 themselves in a one-sided final stanza.
Webster's sharp offensive form continued, along with four steals, while the Breakers' Australian bench guard Rhys Carter contributed 19 points and point guard Cedric Jackson 13.
Brian Conklin and Clint Steindl both scored 17 for Townsville, whose third successive loss was their eighth from nine matches on the road.
Their ball retention was poor, conceding 20 turnovers and allowing the Breakers to make a remarkable 18 steals to six.
The New Zealand outfit must recover quickly for a game on Sunday away to the Cairns Taipans.
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