American Dererk Pardon's double double has guided NZ Breakers to their seventh win of the Australian NBL season, as they rallied late for a 84-76 road victory over Tasmania JackJumpers at Launceston.
Shooting 13/17 from the free-throw line, Pardon compiled 19 points and 10 rebounds, as the Auckland club maintained their hold on second spot on the competition ladder, behind reigning champions Sydney Kings.
With less than two minutes remaining, point guard Izayah Le'afa nailed a three-pointer - his fourth of the contest - that put his team 80-71 ahead and finally beyond reach of their rivals, silencing the parochial crowd in the process.
Pardon got the better of former NBA centre Will Magnay, but the Breakers' accuracy from long distance propelled them to the win, as they converted 10 of 26 attempts, compared to their opponents' 4-21.
Neither team could impose any kind of dominance through the opening three-quarters, with the JackJumpers ahead 41-37 at halftime and leading 61-58 into the fourth stanza.
Breakers battled foul trouble, with several of their frontliners at risk of early exits in a physical encounter that spilled over occasionally.
The visitors finally put their noses in front midway through the final period, when American Bobby Brown Jr hit a pull-up jumpshot to trigger a seven-point burst that proved crucial. Tasmania never led again.
"Tassie made this a very Tassie game," said Breakers coach Mody Maor. "They made it a good, old fashioned dogfight and we responded.
"We have no problem being in a dogfight - we actually enjoy it.
"A little bit of luck and a lot of maturity from our players... You don’t try and avoid your fifth [foul], you just try to stop the cheap fouls."
The Breakers return home to host Adelaide 36ers on Sunday.
NZ Breakers 84 (Pardon 19, Le'afa 17, Brantley & Brown 12) Tasmania JackJumpers 76 (Kelly 17, Magette 16, McVeigh 11)
