Inaccuracy has handed the New Zealand Breakers their first-ever home NBL loss to Melbourne United, with the visitors winning 100-82 to lock in the minor premiership.
It was Melbourne's first win across the Tasman in nine meetings since adopting their new name. For the New Zealand side, the result all but ends their top-two hopes.
The Breakers were blistering hot in the first quarter in Auckland on Sunday and ice-cold in the second and third.
Heading into first-quarter time 30-25 ahead and with DJ Newbill raining down buckets, the Breakers incomprehensibly seized up.
Swingman Tom Abercrombie toiled through one of the most profligate nights of his career, scoring five points in total and just one from eight free throws, while centres Rob Loe and Alex Pledger also had a tough time.
Melbourne, meanwhile, were ruthless through the likes of Chris Goulding, Josh Boone and Dave Barlow, and put the Breakers to the sword.
They pushed out to a 73-58 three-quarter time lead and rode out the Breakers' fourth-quarter resistance to finish 18-point winners.
Boone was a standout, driving through the middle to score 19 points from centre, while Goulding was lethal and snared 21.
United import Casper Ware also made 10 assists.
The victory - Melbourne's fifth on the trot and their second over the Breakers in three days - wraps up their NBL minor premiership.
The Breakers are already guaranteed a finals berth.
Yet the loss will give coach Paul Henare plenty to think about, particularly their woeful 43 per cent shooting accuracy and 16 missed free throws.
He lambasted such inaccuracy, saying it was a golden opportunity missed.
"For them to walk into the locker room (at halftime) up five, we missed however many free throws and good looks - it just shifts the mental edge," Henare said.
"I can't remember what the count was at half-time but it wasn't very good - we had 11 points in that second quarter, I don't know how many free throws we missed but that could've been at least a 20-point quarter for us."
