It was a coming-out party for the New Zealand Breakers' Karim Lopez, the teenager having an NBL career-best 32 points to lead his team to a season-enlivening 97-95 win over Melbourne United.
The 18-year-old Next Star from Mexico needed to step up, with New Zealand having lost front-court pair Sam Mennenga (wrist) and Rob Baker II (knee) to long-term injuries.
Lopez put the team on his back in Auckland on Friday, showing off his incredible NBA potential.
After Melbourne led by eight with five minutes to play, Lopez took control. New Zealand went on a 14-2 run - all those points courtesy of their teenage star - before holding on to win by two to enhance their prospects of nabbing sixth spot.
"Obviously Karim had an amazing game, a big fourth quarter and a big reason why we won," said coach Petteri Koponen said.
"As an 18-year-old the things Karim can do are amazing and it was a gritty win, but there is no time to celebrate too much because tomorrow morning we're straight to the airport and we keep fighting."
The Breakers opened up an early 17-8 advantage and didn't miss a shot attempt inside the arc in the first quarter to lead 28-21 at the break.
In the second period the Breakers hit all seven of their two-point attempts, with Parker Jackson-Cartwright having 17 points of his own, including the last seven to ensure New Zealand led 49-48 at halftime.
The visitors actually opened up an eight-point lead midway through the final quarter after back-to-back Melbourne threes from Chris Goulding and the returning Shea Ili.
That's when Lopez took over, the Breakers scoring 15 of the last 20 points to win by two and improve to an 11-17 record to be hot on the heels of the sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-16).
Lopez had 32 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 11-of-13 shooting and 9-of-12 at the foul line.
Jackson-Cartwright finished with 23 points and three assists, with Izaiah Brockington contributing 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Rob Loe 10 points, five boards, three assists and three steals.
The loss leaves Melbourne (18-11) vulnerable in fourth place, just ahead of the Perth Wildcats (17-11).
Import centre Jesse Edwards had 23 points and 14 rebounds, but fluffed a golden chance to put United back in front in the dying seconds.
Goulding made 4-of-12 from downtown for 16 points, with Finn Delany adding 13 points and four assists, and Ili 11 points and three assists in 15 minutes.
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman will look back on how his team could have defended the Breakers better who ended up making 30-of-37 from two-point territory.
"I was a little shocked at halftime to go and look and they are 18-of-18 from two-point range and you don't see that very often, and then to look at the end of the game and they're 81 per cent," he said.
"Some of them were tough ones, but there were some drives and layups, and some transition, that we've got to be a lot better in guarding that, but Lopez was on another level tonight and highly efficient."
