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JACKJUMPER import Jordon Crawford yesterday shredded defending NBL champion Sydney with 14 points in two minutes to start the fourth quarter of what ultimately would be a 105-95 road win for Tasmania and a new record high score for the fledgling club.

And Melbourne staved off an impressive New Zealand 97-88 in a thriller to tip off a super Sunday to close NBL Round 4.

In Sydney, Milton Doyle on the bench with four fouls from late in the third quarter, the Kings made a run and drove what consistently had been a double-digit deficit back to just three.

Crawford started the last swishing consecutive threes from the top of the key, missed one from the corner, then knocked down two more to have the Kings floundering. He drove for a pull-up and had 14 points with 2:31 off the last quarter clock and Tasmania ahead 89-70.

Ballgame.

Perth Wildcats fans wondering whatever happened to "Wildcats basketball" need only look at what former Perth assistant-coach to Trevor Gleeson, Scott Roth, has done for Tasmania. You want "Wildcat basketball"? You'll find it at "Jackies basketball."

Scouting the Kings tendency to switch on everything, Tasmania exploited the mismatches with Majok Deng (17 points at 57 per cent), Clint Steindl (13 points at 67 per cent) and Doyle (17 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals) the major beneficiaries.

Crawford produced a 20-point final quarter en route to his NBL career-high of 32, Marcus Lee snaring 13 rebounds and players such as Fabijan Krslovic and Sean MacDonald providing important minutes behind the ever-reliable Jack McVeigh.

As it did when it lost earlier to the JackJumpers in Tasmania, Sydney relied too heavily on Jaylen Adams (21 points on 8-of-23) and paid for it, Jaylin Galloway also suffering what appeared to be a shoulder injury not helping its cause.

Tassie, again, is the real deal. But don't fret about the Kings either. They will be active too at the season's business end.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 105 (Crawford 32, Deng, Doyle 17, Steindl, McVeigh 13; Lee 13 rebs; Crawford 4 assts) d SYDNEY KINGS 95 (Adams 21, Hunter 16, Toohey 13, Valentine 12; Adams 10 rebs; Adams 5 assts) at Qudos Bank Arena. Crowd: 10,721

CHRIS Goulding has hit more than his fair share of big shots throughout an illustrious career but two monster 3-pointers he made in the last quarter for Melbourne against New Zealand helped clinch this gem of a contest.

One from the deep corner and one under extreme pressure turned what was a point-for-point battle into a sufficient United edge so that when Ian Clark hit his triple with 42 seconds left for 93-84, it proved the game-winner.

The Breakers, just back from the US and their NBA battles, once again received a draw raw deal, having to play - notice Cairns had the round off - and also to do it on the road.

Whether jet-lag kicked in is debatable, though a couple of key Breakers did struggle with their touch and a 33-point United final quarter suggests the trip did finally catch up with NZ.

Zylan Cheatham was fantastic though with 30 points at 52 per cent, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block to easily be the man of the match, despite being on the losing side.

He had plenty of help from Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Dane Pineau was a big asset off the bench when foul woes saw his earlier introduction and a more prolonged run.

Dealing with Melbourne's Ariel Hukporti-Jo Lual-Acuil centre combination was a riddle the Breakers could not solve and Luke Travers, particularly in the first half, was hugely influential.

Bet he's glad he took off from Perth.

Despite the absence of Matty Dellavedova (concussion), United was organised and disciplined, Shea Ili seeing to that. But New Zealand lost no admirers for its gallant effort and again will be in contention for the Dr John Raschke Trophy.

MELBOURNE UNITED 97 (Clark 18, Travers, Goulding, Lual-Acuil, Ili 16; Hukporti 6 rebs; Ili 4 assts) d NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 88 (Cheatham 30, Jackson-Cartwright 18, Lamb 15; McDowell-White 7 rebs; McDowell-White 9 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 9,579

COMPLIMENTS to the TV commentary teams yesterday. Really enjoyed their work at both games.

Having them in the venues is a huge upgrade and opens the door for greater in-game insight, rather than the personal "entertaining" drivel to which viewers often are subjected from studio-bound talking heads. 

TOMORROW: Round 4 Team of the Week