The questions, and doubts, continue for Australian NBL regular season champions the NZ Breakers after they lost for the third time in four games, going down 100-92 in Townsville.

The Breakers did nothing to dispel suggestions they have well and truly lost their mojo, despite wrapping up the No 1 seeding for the playoffs with four games up their sleeves.

Their offensive game continues to stutter - brilliant one quarter, woeful the next - and defensively they could not be happy with yet another game where their opponents scored all too often and too easily.

After a rollicking start, the Breakers went from red-hot to luke-warm to ice cold as they allowed the Crocs to haul in a 15-point second-half deficit and steal a 100-92 victory that all but secures a playoff spot for the North Queenslanders.

The Breakers sink to 19-6 and the Crocs join Perth on the 15-10 mark as the two teams vie for the all-important second spot on the standings.

The Breakers had started like a million bucks, shooting a blistering first-quarter percentage to lead 36-24 and have the Crocodiles searching for early answers. But after winning the second and third quarters conclusively (26-16 and 30-24) the home side went into the final term holding a four-point advantage.

The Breakers never threatened over the run home as their shooting stayed too cool to make any inroads on the cruising Crocs.

Gary Wilkinson was one of the few Breakers to turn up with his A game in tow, the big red-head finishing with a game-high 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Tom Abercrombie chipped in with a solid 18 points (6/11 FG, 4/6 3PT) and seven boards and CJ Bruton's 12 points (4/11 FG) and four assists represented a fair night's work.

Kirk Penney couldn't buy a bucket in the second half as he finished well under his league-leading scoring average, while again Mika Vukona saw too little ball at the offensive end.

Sharpshooter Peter Crawford paced a balanced Crocs scoring effort with 20 points, and having now despatched the Kiwis two times out of three they will be just one side heading into the playoffs fearing nothing from the top qualifiers.

Townsville 100 (Peter Crawford 20, Luke Schenscher 16, Nathan Crosswell 15, Russell Hinder 12, Michael Cedar 11, Brad Williamson 10), NZ Breakers 92 (Gary Wilkinson 22, Thomas Abercrombie 18, Kirk Penney 13, CJ Bruton 12, Kevin Braswell 10).

1Q: 24-36; HT: 50-52; 3Q: 80-76.