Boomers sharpshooter Chris Goulding has helped Melbourne United remain on track to claim the NBL minor premiership by inspiring a 99-88 win over Brisbane Bullets at Nissan Arena.
Goulding dropped 22 points, including six from 11 three-point shooting, as United recorded win No.25 of the season - equalling a club record.
United stay on top of the NBL ladder ahead of nearest rivals, defending champions Perth Wildcats (24-9), with four games to play.
However, the news is much more grim for the Bullets (14-17 record) who must now win their remaining five games and hope other results fall their way to scrape into the finals after losing two home games in three days.
United captain Goulding found his range early against Brisbane, helping his team reel in an early six-point deficit and blow the visitor's lead out to 21 at one stage before cruising to their 15th win in 17 games.
The last time United claimed 25 wins in a season in 2018 they won the championship, recording a 20-8 regular season before a 5-2 playoffs run.
But United coach Dean Vickerman wasn't getting ahead of himself on Monday.
"I don't really like to compare seasons. We played a 28-game season (in 2018) and now a 36-game season," he said.
"At the moment our focus is to try and get top spot if we can, (but) there have been some good improvements in the way that we have shared the basketball over the last month or so."
Indeed, Vickerman shared the minutes around to ensure a team win despite heroics from Goulding who also grabbed five rebounds and four assists.
Boomers starter Jock Landale (seven points, four rebounds) had only 18 minutes of court time as big Jo Lual-Acuil (18 points, five rebounds) and Kiwi Shea Ili (10 points, four rebounds, three steals) fired off a United bench that outscored Brisbane's 50-35.
Boomers squad member Mitch McCarron (five points, six rebounds, seven assists) helped United outscore Brisbane 26-8 off turnovers.
Brisbane must regroup ahead of a five-game run home which includes just one clash against a top three team.
"We played the best team in the competition," Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said.
"In order to give yourself a chance to beat a team like that you have to be on point for the full game and do the little things that make the difference.
"(But) there were key moments when we started to take short cuts."
For Brisbane, Boomers squad member Nathan Sobey (20 points), import Lamar Patterson (19 points) and big man Harry Froling (12 points, six boards) impressed but sharpshooter Anthony Drmic (0-7 from field) was held scoreless for the first time since 2017.