The Melbourne Tigers have further enhanced their chances of reaching the NBL finals with an impressive 84-71 win over the Adelaide 36ers.
Trailing by 11 at half-time (48-37), the Tigers used a 26-11 third term to take control of the match and powered away from their opponents in the final stanza for their 11th win of the season.
It means the Tigers (11-10) improve to third place on the NBL ladder, with the Sydney Kings (10-12) holding on to the final post-season position in fourth and the Wollongong Hawks (9-12) battling to stay in contention in fifth.
Five players scored double figures for the Tigers in Adelaide on Sunday, with veteran Adam Ballinger the best of them with 18 points.
Daniel Johnson led the way for the 36ers with 20 points, while Stephen Weigh was next best with 14.
The home side looked for Johnson inside the key early on in the contest and he did not let his team down as the 36ers opened up a six-point (28-22) buffer at quarter-time to be seemingly in control.
Adam Gibson (10 points) and Weigh chipped in during the second term as the 36ers extended their advantage, but the Tigers found their rhythm during the third to find the lead with a little under two minutes remaining when Chris Goulding (16 points) hit a crucial jumper.
The 36ers attempted to work their way back into the match in the final quarter, but the experience of Liam Rush (15 points) and Jonny Flynn (13) ensured the Tigers held on for a much-deserved victory.
The Tigers' next match is at home against the second-placed Perth Wildcats (15-5) on February 17, while the 36ers (6-16) travel to Cairns to tackle the Taipans (6-13) the previous day,
