The New Zealand Breakers' bid for a season-ending streak of NBL wins is under way but accept it won't last long if their defence remains ragged.
An entertaining 113-106 win over the Cairns Taipans in New Plymouth on Thursday underlined why both teams reside on the bottom rungs of the ladder.
Both defences were lenient, allowing Breakers centre Shawn Long (32 points) and Taipans guards DJ Newbill (32) and Melo Trimble (31) to run amok.
It was the first NBL game since 2009 in which three players have surpassed 30 points and left star guard Trimble underwhelmed.
"It was all offence and no defence," he said.
"That's a good way to play if you're playing pick-up but if you're trying to win, you've got to get stops and that's what we didn't do."
Trimble's tally lifted him ahead of Perth Wildcats guard counterpart Bryce Cotton as the league's leading scorer.
While the last-placed Taipans are well out of post-season contention, the Breakers harbour faint hopes after improving their record to 9-12.
However, coach Kevin Braswell lamented a fourth straight game conceding 100 points and said that won't be good enough when they host fourth-placed Brisbane on Sunday.
They'll need to win at least six of their remaining seven games to have any realistic chance of making the finals series.
The Bullets (12-9) have the firepower to send them packing in Auckland.
"Brisbane, because they shoot the ball so well, you've got to keep them off the three-point line as best you can. They have a great group of shooters," Braswell said.
"Lamar Patterson has brought an extra edge to that group. He's the playmaker and he makes plays."
