Following a 102-99 come-from-behind home win over Townsville Crocodiles the Breakers went down to the Cairns Taipans 92-87  leaving their playoff hopes are in tatters.

An NBL career-high from Jamar Wilson, after being recalled to the starting five for the first time all season, guided the Cairns Taipans to a much-needed 92-87 home win over the New Zealand Breakers.

The New York dynamo scored 33 points and added eight rebounds and six assists in an inspired performance that had their loyal fans in raptures.

Wilson began with boundless energy, scoring the game’s first basket and then delivering seven quick points when the game was on the line in the final quarter.

In between he grabbed rebounds against much-taller opponents and his teammates rallied around him.

"He showed fantastic enthuasiasm and passion and the guys fed off it," coach Aaron Fearne said.

"He had to earn it (his starting spot) but it was the best he's trained for some time and he carried that on tonight."

Back-to-back Wilson jumpers gave the Taipans a five-point lead down the stretch after margin had remained close for the entire second half.

But CJ Bruton gave his team hope, earning three foul shots and then two extras when Cairns coach Aaron Fearne was stung with a technical foul in protest of the call.

Bruton (16 points) made four of those to make it a one-point contest, but Gary Wilkinson (15 points) missed an open triple on the ensuing possession that could have swung the game.

Mitchell Young then produced the play of the match for Cairns, collecting a tough rebound and finishing well to ignite the crowd.

Cam Gliddon (16 points, five steals) then blocked Tom Abercrombie (17 points) on the next play to swing the game in Cairns’ favour.

"I know Gary is kicking himself on that one, but it was a good look and we'd back him to take it every time," Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said.

"They made some big plays after that, a big offensive board (from Young) and Jamar was unbelievable, he came out on a bit of a mission tonight.

"I was really proud of our effort, though."

The Breakers lead the Taipans 25-19 at the first break despite the Kiwis turning it over eight times and the Taipans not even once, but Snakes could not capitalise, shooting just 29 per cent (6-of-21).

Both teams improved in those respective departments as the game went on, but it was Wilson who stepped up to play star and squad the triple-defending champions on his home court.

Fearne and Wilson lauded the way the team backed each other up in what was a sometimes-spiteful affair.

Even veteran Snake Matt Burston found himself in a scuffle as the game grew in tension.

"It was without question the first time we have not stepped down and got disrepected," Fearne said.

Wilson said their "grunt" was the best part about it.

"It was amazing. We were that dominant team and anyone that watched could see we fought hard and fought together," the point guard said.

Cairns Taipans 92 (Wilson 33, Gliddon 16, Loughton 14)
New Zealand Breakers 87 (Abercrombie 17, Bruton 16, Wilkinson 15)

By Grant Chapman, Pagemasters

The three-time defending champion New Zealand Breakers kept their fading hopes of a fourth title alive with a 102-99 come-from-behind home win over Townsville Crocodiles at the North Shore Events Centre.

Trailing by as many as 11 points in the third period, the hosts clawed their way back and clear of their opponents with a 15-3 run to begin the final quarter.

American Brian Conklin shot free throws to tie the scores with 48 seconds on the clock, but Tom Abercrombie and Mika Vukona edged the Breakers to a victory that maintains their mathematical playoff prospects.

Abercrombie finished with a game-high 29 points, Vukona’s 20 points was his best return for the season, while American Gary Wilkinson recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners.

Conklin had 26 points for Townsville and Todd Blanchfield added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Without injured guard Daryl Corletto, the Breakers started Corey Webster, while Townsville inserted Mitch Norton for suspended American Josh Pace.

The home side began the contest scoring in multiples of three, Wilkinson hitting from the arc, and Vukona and Abercrombie converting three-point plays.

But when Steven Markovic and Conklin sparked an 11-2 run, the Crocs found themselves five points up and 25-22 ahead after the initial quarter.

As Blanchfield hit his stride, the Townsville margin reached double figures and despite Abercrombie’s best efforts - including a spectacular alley-oop - the Breakers were still 45-50 adrift at half-time.

Each side had created similar opportunities through the opening 20 minutes, but the Crocs (53% field goals, 4/8 three-pointers) were marginally more accurate with their chances than their rivals (46%, 4/11 three-pointers).

A Conklin three-point play extended the advantage back into double figures soon after the restart, but early in the final quarter, a Vukona finger roll tied the scores at 75-75. When Vukona drove baseline on Jacob Holmes next time down the court the Breakers had their first lead since the opening moments.

"We ran a few different plays down the stretch, but a lot of them were just to give the ball to Mika," said Breakers coach Dean Vickerman. "He's pretty hard to stop when he rips that baseline."

Townsville hung tough and Conklin tied the scores again at 97-97 with 28 seconds remaining, but Abercrombie drove the lane to restore the Breakers’ edge and Vukona added two freebies to make the victory safe.

Markovic’s last-second three-pointer to force overtime then rimmed out and the Breakers held on.

Crocs coach Shawn Dennis pointed to the loss of Norton with injury late in the final quarter as the key moment of the game for his side.

"I was proud of our guys," he said. "We had a lot of adversity - missing an import and another big guy with a broken wrist, we got into foul trouble and then that injury to Norton. To give ourselves a chance was a good effort.

"The loss was a bit heartbreaking, because we won in the areas we wanted to, but you can't have defensive breakdowns like we had in that last quarter."

The Breakers also lost American point guard Kerron Johnson to an ankle roll, but Vickerman was confident he'd be fine to travel to Cairns this weekend.

Needing to win their last four games to stay alive, Wilkinson was confident of achieving that, despite his outfit's inability to string together victories this season.

"Absolutely, I've been on runs with this team before and have no doubt we have the guys to get it done," he said.

"It takes a champion's mindset."

New Zealand Breakers 102 (Abercrombie 29, Vukona 20, Bruton 14, Wilkinson 14)
Townsville Crocs 99 (Conklin 26, Blanchfield 17, Markovic 15)