NZ Breakers have continued their hot start to the Australian NBL season, with an 88-62 blowout win over Illawarra Hawks at Wollongong.
Their third straight victory - the first time they've achieved such a feat since the 2019/20 season - lifts them to third in the competition standings and reaffirms their status as genuine title contenders.
The win was founded on an explosive first half, when the Breakers dominated the offensive glass to create a host of second-chance opportunities, while playing suffocating defence and winning all the hustle plays.
That combination saw them pull away by as many as 24 points and the Hawks never looked likely to recover, as the Breakers upheld their intensity throughout the second half, despite some third-quarter wobbles.
They finished the night with 53 rebounds to 36, including 17-11 offensively, while scoring 15 second-chance points and 21 off Illawarra's 14 turnovers.
Among the Breakers' best in a balanced box score was Aussie guard Will McDowell-White, who posted a gaudy all-round statistical line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Big man Rob Loe maintained his excellent recent form with 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Cam Gliddon returned to the team to nail four three-pointers for 12 points. French 'Next Star' Rayan Rupert chipped in 11 points and four boards, and both Tom Vodanovich and Jarrell Brantley added 10 points apiece.
Breakers coach Mody Maor took the most satisfaction from his team's defensive display, limiting the Hawks to just 26 points at the break to take a 21-point advantage into the third quarter.
"[What I liked most] was the defensive effort and how hard we were on the defensive side," Maor said. "This has to be our foundation and where this team starts, and we held Illawarra to 60 points, so that's a good place to be.
"Our guys have bought into us being a defensive-first team and we have a phenomenal group of players, who really care about winning, and are willing to put their hearts on the line and compete in every moment in the game.
"This is the foundation for everything we are doing."
The Breakers now return to Auckland to face South East Melbourne Phoenix at Trusts Arena on Thursday.
NZ Breakers 88 (McDowell-White 17, Gliddon 12, Rupert 11, Loe 10) Illawarra Hawks 62 (Harvey 12)
