.Another week, another fourth-quarter escape act from the NZ Breakers. You could say it was all getting a bit ho-hum, if it wasn't so damn exciting

Tonight it was the undermanned Melbourne Tigers who fell victim to the finishing power of the NBL's runaway leader who remain unbeaten for 2011 courtesy of a 101-91 victory at the North Shore Events Centre.

In front of another huge Friday night crowd of close to 4000, the Breakers finally shook loose a gritty Tigers challenge to extend their record to 16-3, their winning streak to six and their home mark to a deadly 8-1. Oh, just for good measure the Kiwi club has also won 11 of its last 12 games.

The Tigers offered plenty - mainly via an outstanding game-high 35-point haul from crafty forward Cameron Tragardh - but like many before them they simply ran out of puff when it counted against the deep Breakers lineup.

It wasn't the Breakers' finest hour defensively - they gave up too many gimmes for that - or on the boards, where they were smashed 36-24, but you had to admire their trademark coolness under pressure in the final quarter.

After trailing by four (72-76) heading into the final stanza, the Kiwis hammered the Tigers 29-15 over the final 10 minutes to cruise to another impressive victory. And the way they were able to step up their tempo, and their defensive pressure, when it counted was a heartening sign for the home side.

Kirk Penney led the way for the Breakers with 22 points on eight-of-12 shooting (and five-of-seven from deep), though he had plenty of support from his mates as the sharp-shooter was held to just a single bucket over the final period by some sharp Tigers defence.

Gary Wilkinson, the reigning NBL player of the month, had another big game with 22 points (6/11 FG, 8/9 FT), four boards and two blocks, CJ Bruton hit his customary array of big shots en route to 16 points (6/8 FG) and a pair of steals and Tom Abercrombie weighed in handily with 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks.

The "Closer" Kevin Braswell also had 11 points, five assists and two steals to hint at a form resurgence, while special mention must be made of another committed Dillon Boucher that saw him finish with six points, five rebounds, three assists and his head in a swathe of bandages.

Tragardh was superb for the Tigers and Corey Williams' 18 points, five rebounds and six assists kept his men in the hunt, but ey were simply overwhelmed at the end by the Breakers' finishing power.

It had been a hot 'n' cold first half by the Breakers, who mixed blistering shooting (60 percent from the floor and beyond the arc) with some shoddy defence to end a topsy-turvy first 20 minutes 52-50 in front, but with all sorts of adjustments needed at the defensive end.

The New Zealand interior defence was, in a word, pathetic. Tigers power forward Tragardh was the chief beneficiary of that, barely having to set foot outside the lane to secure the great majority of his 21 first-half points.

The Breakers had struggled early to contain Tigers playmaker Williams who sparked his team out to a quick nine-point lead, but when Kirk Penney drew the point guard's third foul late in the opening quarter his effectiveness was blunted.

Still, the Tigers led by four at the first break and with Tragardh continuing to score at will near the hoop got out by eight heading towards the major break. But four three-pointers in the final two minutes - two of them to the slick Penney - regained the momentum and the barest of halftime leads for the Breakers.

A 19-10 rebounding edge had helped the Tigers secure seven more field-goal attempts for the half and this along with a 32-16 point-in-the-paint advantage kept the visitors in the contest.

The Breakers' nest game is at home next Thursday against the Perth Wildcats - a matchup many are predicting could be a preview of the final later in the season.

NZ Breakers 101 (Kirk Penney 24, Gary Wilkinson 22, CJ Bruton 16, Tom Abercrombie 11, Kevin Braswell 11), Melbourne Tigers 91 (Cameron Tragardh 35, Corey Williams 18, Daryl Corletto 12, Tommy Greer 10). 1Q: 25-29; HT: 52-50; 3Q: 72-76.