The stunned Aucklanders bounced back from the first-quarter onslaught to gradually work themselves into the game, winning the remaining three quarters 24-19, 23-19 and closing their account with a 31-21 don't argue statement.
"Reuben [Te Rangi] played very well and Casey [Frank] was close to a triple double.
Te Rangi scored 24 points and Frank scored 15 points, collected 10 rebounds and contributed eight assists.
But the Rangers' other starting five of Aussie imports Tom Garlepp and Jason Cadee as well as captain Dylan Boucher all got into double figures with Garlepp claiming a double-double.
The game-high 25 points went to Hawks Nigerian import power forward Suleiman Braimoh who claimed yet another double-double with 10 rebounds.
"Su's first half really got us going," Flynn said, labelling the game as the Hawks' best offensive performance this winter where they found 20 minutes of love with the rim and only coughed up 10 turnovers.
Winitana, returning from an ankle injury, contributed 21 points while US import centre Zack Atkinson scored 14 but managed seven rebounds to break his habit of keeping the Hawks in the winning margin when he occupies the court for more than 30 minutes.
"It's the best Zack has played in three weeks," he said amid meetings this week to address their "miscommunication" this week.
Kenny was again sublime with 11 assists and seven points while bench shooting guard Luke Aston added 10 points and five assists to deprive Alonzo Burton of game time (1:33).
"JK kept Jason Caddee to 11 points and Paora made huge shots," Flynn said.
Winitana isn't travelling today to Christchurch for the 2pm tip off against the Canterbury Rams tomorrow.
That, Flynn said, would mean Burton would get more game time.
"Luke played really well and took his offensive end apart and Ana [bench guard Anamata Haku] was solid defensively."
The Hawks strayed from their game plan in the last quarter and paid the price.
Flynn said for two minutes at the start of the third quarter, when his men coughed up five points, and the last two minutes of the final quarter they spurned the mantra of moving the ball around offensively as well as putting up the shutters at their end: "We can't give a team with that much talent four minutes of easy baskets."
The difference was in the Hawks' poor transition defence.
"Our half court was good," he said but lamented gifting 30 free throws to their 18.
The Southland Sharks beat the Manawatu Jets 106-93 in Palmerston North.
MATCH DETAILS
Waitakere Rangers figures first:
Field goals: 32/62 (33%); 34/72 (47%).
3 pointers: 9/22 (41%); 7/19 (37%).
Free throws: 21/30 (70%); 12/18 (67%).
Rebounds: 34; 33.
Assists: 23; 20.
Steals: 3; 6.
Blocks: 0; 2.
Turnovers: 12/10.
Fouls (fouls on): 16 (23); 23 (16).
Points in the paint: 38; 46.
2nd chance pts: 8; 6.
Pts off turnovers: 12; 8.
Pts off bench: 13; 17.
Result: James Blond Supercity Rangers 96 (Reuben Te Rangi 24pts, 4 assists; Tom Garlepp 23pts, 11 reb; 5 assists; Casey Frank 15pts, 10 reb, 8 assists; Jason Cadee 11pts; 4 assists) IMS Payroll Bank Hawks 87 (Suleiman Braimoh 25pts, 10 reb; Paora Winitana 21pts; Zack Atkinson 14pts; 7 reb; Luke Aston 10pts, 5 assists; Jarrod Kenny 11 assists, 7 pts) .
Quarters (Rangers first), 1st: 18-28. 2nd: 42-47 (24-19). 3rd: 65-66 (23-19). Final: 96-87 (31-21).
