Basketball On The Internet.

THAT'S how you do it. When your back's to the wall, your chemistry is suspect, your cohesion questionable, you just need to focus on what made you a champion.

New Zealand did just that last night. Its season on the brink, it looked every centimetre a focused unit as it dismantled Adelaide at Titanium Security Arena to throw open the quest for the NBL's fourth spot.

The Breakers were so good they were scary. Corey Webster (28 points at 69 per cent) opened with a jumpshot, then Cedric Jackson stuck the first of his career-best seven 3-pointers.

ENTERTAINING? IF YOU'RE AN NZ FAN, YOU BET: Cedric Jackson killed the 36ers last night.

Jackson finished with 31 points, one shy of his career-best, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Tom Abercrombie opened his night with a triple, Mika Vukona drove hard to score on Daniel Johnson. Alex Pledger flipped in a reverse.

All of NZ's starters and champions had scored while the 36ers were trying to find a way to play without injured star Jerome Randle.

The writing was on the wall.

NOT A LOT OF FUN: Lucas Walker gave 36ers fans a couple of moments to revel in.

By halftime NZ was ahead by 20 and Adelaide's biggest interval recovery this season was the 19 it turned back to beat Sydney. But the Kings are no Breakers.

Webster hit some amazing shots when the 36ers came from 27 down at 47-74 to within 11 at 76-87. He would not let the Breakers surrender the buffer they had built, knowing 15 was the magic number NZ had to better to steal the season-series on points spread.

They did it too, winning by 22 and keeping the final four race very much alive.

Tonight: UNITED catches Illawarra when it is down and if Melbourne can beat a full-strength Perth in Perth, the Hawks without Kirk Penney should be fair game. This still will be a cracker though. Illawarra bounced back from losing in Perth to end Adelaide's winning run at six before dropping the next one back in Adelaide. They'll be fired up again and should be a value bet. But Melbourne is a justified favourite. 

Last night: NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 106 (Ce Jackson 31, Webster 28, Pledger 17, Wesley 13; Abercrombie 12 rebs; Ce Jackson 6 assts) d ADELAIDE 36ERS 84 (Creek 16, Gibson 14, Petrie 13, Johnson 12; Walker, Petrie 9 rebs; Gibson 7 assts) at The Fortress, Titanium Security Arena.