Jason Cadee's three-point dagger with 10 seconds left has iced a 93-85 victory for the Brisbane Bullets over the fast-finishing Adelaide 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
After a dominant third quarter on Monday night, the Bullets threatened a blowout when they pushed ahead by 13 points midway through the fourth before the Sixers, spearheaded by Filipino teen sensation Kai Sotto (21 points), charged hard to the line.
Triples to Sunday Dech and Mojave King and two free throws from Sotto reduced the deficit to two points inside the final half-minute.
On the next possession, Brisbane whipped the ball around and worked the clock patiently when ex-36er Cadee, wide-open, buried a bomb to end Adelaide's hopes and extend their losing streak to four.
The Bullets, with their best player Robert Franks rested with a mystery ailment and coming off an appalling performance against Illawarra on Saturday, boasted an even contribution across the board against the Sixers.
Floor general Cadee, athletic French NBA prospect Tom Digbeu and import Lamar Patterson all notched 15 points and reserve forward Deng Deng added 14.
"The guys showed some character," Brisbane coach James Duncan said.
"The guys really focused on the game plan.
"We needed to find ways to not panic and still execute, screen and find the open man.
"We were able to do that and make plays at the end."
Mitch McCarron (17 points, six assists) was influential early for the 36ers who jumped to a 17-7 lead, which Brisbane trimmed to 24-23 at quarter-time thanks largely to Cadee and Digbeu.
After scores were locked away at 41-all at half-time, the Bullets got on top in the third.
Patterson slowly shook off his recent shooting horrors, while tall trio Deng, Jack Salt and 225cm Chinese giant Chuanxing Liu dominated the boards.
Only Sotto, with 11 of Adelaide's 16 points in one stretch before being benched as he started to blow hard, offered any resistance either side of three-quarter-time as Brisbane moved ahead 79-66.
The Sixers' perimeter shooting touch returned, Bullets pair Liu and Anthony Drmic both fouled out and the fightback was on before Cadee turned the lights out on his old team.
"I thought we started the game with a roar," Adelaide coach CJ Bruton said.
"As the game unfolded, (we had) a couple of breakdowns here and there, the lead started to get away.
"Jason did what he's done the three times we've played them and closed it out."