The New Zealand Breakers negotiated a key hurdle in their bid for a first NBL playoff appearance by downing West Sydney 109-95 in Auckland.

The win consolidated the Breakers' position in the top-eight, taking their win-loss record of 13-12 with five matches to go.

American guard Darnell Hinson produced a game-high 26 points but it wasn't enough for the Razorbacks who are now 10-16 and in tenth spot on the ladder.

For the Breakers, Phill Jones (22), Kirk Penney (21) and Derrick Alston (21) were the main contributors on the scoreboard.

American import Alston, a mid-season injury replacement, also grabbed 11 rebounds for his second successive double-double.

He also provided one of the game's highlights, when he connected with an assist by compatriot Orien Greene to complete an alley oop and put his team up 43-31 midway through the second quarter.

The Breakers had gone into the encounter on the back of two road defeats and were again without experienced forward Tony Ronaldson, still sidelined with an Achilles strain.

But aided by a solid defensive effort, they led from start to finish to take their season series with West Sydney 2-1.

Up 30-22 at quarter time, the Breakers pulled away over the next 12 minutes to be a commanding 62-45 up at halftime and then did enough in the second half to ensure there was no coming back for the visitors.

Coach Andrej Lemanis said the win was an important one for the Breakers' ambitions over the remainder of the regular season.

He was also looking at not just at a top-eight playoff spot but at the prospect of a finish as high as in the top-four.

"We're in a position where our destiny is in our own hands, and that's not just making the playoffs," he said.

"The league is so tight we could still get into fourth spot, depending on other results.

Every game is important for everybody from here on in."

Lemanis was pleased with the Breakers' defensive effort, something they had been targeting.

But he conceded that his players tapered off during the final stages of the encounter, when the result looked to be in the bag.

"I think we got sloppy in the last six or seven minutes, but we won the basketball game," he said.

"We played well to that point. We certainly need to continue to be relentless."

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