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A game-high 37 points to Shane Heal was not enough to stop the in-form Gold Coast Blaze recording their tenth win of the season last night as the Crazy John's South Dragons went down 127-116 in a high-scoring showdown at Gold Coast Convention Centre.
In a scintillating show of skill, Blaze import point guard Jason Crowe connected on 10 three-pointers to bankroll the Gold Coast victory.
Crowe, who potted seven three-pointers against the 36ers in the Blaze's last home game, confidently admitted he had been a good shooter his whole career.
The star point guard's performance also included eight assists and a total of 34 points and somewhat overshadowed a similarly superb performance by the evergreen Shane Heal, who recorded 37 points in a losing cause.
The pair butted heads all night and their match-up was the most exciting facet of what was a very competitive game.
Crowe, who landed four threes in the first half and six in the second, was joined by a host of his team-mates as the Blaze had a field day from beyond the arc.
Harvey shot five threes, Joyce four, Pero Cameron had three, Scott McGregor netted two and even Casey Frank made a perfect two-from-two to contribute to a grand total of 26 three-pointers for the night - a new NBL record - at the amazing clip of 62 per cent.
The Dragons were a more-than-respectable 14-of-30 from long range on a night where shooting was made to look ridiculously easy.
Harvey was the catalyst for a nine-point opening quarter lead for the home side, with a 14-point opening burst including a perfect eight-of-eight from the free-throw line.
Dragons player-coach Heal was remarkably similar, also recording eight perfect free throws on the way to 13 first-quarter points, but with both Cortez Groves and Bakari Hendrix in foul trouble with three fouls each, it was the home team that was able to pile on the early pressure.
Heal maintained the rage in the second quarter with eight further points and the beginning of a feisty rivalry with Crowe.
Joyce was particularly effective with 14 points to the half-time, whilst Dragons star Joe Ingles connected on a couple of eye-catching dunks on his way to 12 first-half points.
The Blaze went to the half with a 12-point lead (69-57), but with Heal in ominous form and import combination Hendrix and Groves with plenty left in the tank the home side was a long way from victory.
Hendrix overcame foul trouble in the first half to total 23 points while Ingles recorded a typically impressive game of 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Blaze coach Brendan Joyce was relieved to survive the shootout with the dangerous Dragons.
"We have been lighting it up lately but we really didn't want to get into a shootout with Shane and Cortez but we matched them tonight,' said Joyce.
"If we are shooting the ball well, we still got to play D and not trade baskets. I know the crowd loves it, you all love it, but it's very dangerous with a team like that (the Dragons)."
The Blaze now has a break of 17 days before their next hit out against the Singapore Slingers on the Gold Coast, while the Dragons play the Melbourne Tigers on December 15.
Gold Coast Blaze 127 (Crowe 33, Harvey 27, Joyce 17)
South Dragons 116 (Heal 37, Hendrix 23, Ingles 21)
Crowd: 3234 @ Gold Coast Convention Centre