With Parker Jackson-Cartwright running the show like only he can and his teammates bringing their hard hats, the New Zealand Breakers have had too much energy for the Adelaide 36ers in a 109-82 home victory.
Despite a gruelling travel schedule and still missing key trio Max Darling, Mojave King and ex-Sixers captain Mitch McCarron, the Breakers shot out of the blocks at Spark Arena on Saturday night and never looked back.
While blown away in Christchurch by the South East Melbourne Phoenix, the Breakers willed themselves to a spirited win last Sunday in Sydney against the Kings.
They kept that momentum going back in Auckland scoring the opening 10 points of the contest and, with dynamic guard Jackson-Cartwright virtually doing as he pleased in a spectacular display, the Breakers stayed on top the rest of the way.
The Sixers arrived having won five of their past six matches, and while their import trio of Kendric Davis (18 points, six assists), Montrezl Harrell (25 points, six rebounds) and Jarrell Martin (11 points, three boards, three steals) contributed strongly, they never seriously threatened.
New Zealand put up 33 points for the first quarter with Jackson-Cartwright scoring 14 of those and he ended up with 20 for the half and the Breakers up 52-39 at the half.
Some hot three-point shooting including three in quick time to Grant Anticevich late in the third saw the lead blow out to 28 points, with the Breakers ending up winning by 27 to improve to 5-2 on the season.
Jackson-Cartwright finished with 25 points and six assists, while Next Star Karim Lopez continues to shine with the 17-year-old having 17 points and seven rebounds in a starting role.
Freddie Gillespie was a defensive beast with five blocks to go with 13 points and seven rebounds, with Matt Mooney also putting up 17 points and five assists and Sam Mennenga 14 points and six rebounds.
"We were really solid for all 40 minutes and we talk about rebounds and one-on-one responsibilities before the game, and the guys did an amazing job," Breakers coach Petteri Koponen said after his team went top.
"It was a solid 40 minutes, but like I said after the losses there's no time to cry and now is no time to celebrate."
The rollercoaster ride this season for Adelaide continues with them now 5-4.
Captain DJ Vasiljevic scored 16 points, but it took 6-of-17 shooting as they went 6-of-20 from deep as a team and collecting only 25 rebounds to 39 from New Zealand.
"Victory usually goes to the more aggressive team and unfortunately we had another slow start," Sixers coach Mike Wells said.
"The New Zealand squad played a great game, they were downhill, aggressive and put the pressure on us to make plays, and I think we tried to do the things we wanted to do.
"We were just playing catch up a little bit the whole night on both sides of the ball."
