Missing numerous star players, Melbourne United proved better equipped to cover, with Rob Loe enjoying his return to New Zealand.
Aside from Loe, United were too good across the court, winning 97-70, as the NZ Breakers suffered a third consecutive loss, this time in Christchurch on Thursday night.
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The Breakers were still missing Jonah Bolden, with Tacko Fall (out for several months) and Dane Pineau joining him out injured leaving them significantly shorthanded in the front-court.
United were also missing gun shooters Ian Clark and Chris Goulding, and their own centre Marcus Lee, and after a tight first half, Melbourne held New Zealand to seven third quarter points on the way to a fifth straight victory to maintain top spot at 11-4.
Loe, 33, did not quite match his career-high across 196 ANBL games of 30 points less than a month ago, but his 25 points came on 10-of-16 shooting.
Jack White added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Melbourne with Matthew Dellavedova 10 points, seven assists and four boards and Shea Ili 10 points, six assists and three rebounds.
The Breakers have now lost three straight, falling to 7-6, with Matt Mooney finishing with 17 points and four rebounds, Sam Mennenga contributed 17 points and four boards, and Parker Jackson-Cartwright 14 points and three rebounds.
It was a free-flowing contest in the opening quarter with both teams trying to figure some things out with the key pieces they were missing.
Jackson-Cartwright and Mooney hit early threes to help the Breakers to the 6-2 start which became 12-6 once Mennenga joined the three-point party.
However, Melbourne worked on top from there and outscored the Breakers 22 points to 12 the rest of the first quarter to head into quarter-time leading 28-24.
Things remained tight going into the half-time break, though, with Melbourne clinging to the 46-43 advantage as Loe already had 16 points for United against his former team in his home country.
The Breakers stayed in touch thanks to a combined 37 points of their 43 coming courtesy of Mennenga (15), Mooney (13) and Jackson-Cartwright (nine).
The third quarter has been a struggle for the Breakers at times this season, including scoring just three points against Tasmania back in Round 8, and it was not much better.
Melbourne held the Breakers to just seven points in the third term while scoring 24 themselves to blow the game apart before 15 of the first 20 in the fourth period to see the lead blow out to 30 points after another Kyle Bowen bucket.
From there Melbourne ended up with the 27-point victory to earn a measure of revenge on a New Zealand team who beat them by 34 points on their home floor a month ago.
The Breakers have the short turnaround to now playing the Sydney Kings in Wellington on Saturday while United head back home to play host to the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday.
Melbourne United 97 (Rob Loe 25, Jack White 16, Shea Ili 10, Matt Dellavedova 10) NZ Breakers 70 (Sam Mennenga 17, Matt Mooney 17, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 14). 1Q: 28-24, HT: 46-43, 3Q: 70-50