The new recruit had shown his promise in the first two games of his Breakers career, scoring 37 points and recording nine assists, and his efforts in Brisbane might have saved his side's season.
With six games to play, the Breakers (10-12) may still need as many as four wins to book a playoff berth, but they now at least possess a couple of imports who can provide game-winning contributions.
Fellow new face Paul Carter was quiet today after playing the pivotal role in Friday night's win over Sydney, but Dillard's 65 per cent shooting and five assists more than made up for his compatriot.
Both men did turn over the ball four times as the Breakers again suffered from their own miscues, ensuring it was far from a perfect performance. But a win was all that was required, especially given the Breakers never led until Dillard's last-gasp heroics.
The visitors committed seven turnovers in the first and shot poorly in the second to head to halftime trailing by eight, being victimised by Daniel Kickert (24 points on nine-of-nine shooting) in the paint and on the outside.
Only a 10-2 run late in the second kept the Breakers close, as Dillard scored seven quick points and assisted a Carter three, before the Breakers' resurgence continued in the third.
Kirk Penney grabbed eight points in the period to help his side pull within a couple of possessions but, once more, turnovers allowed Brisbane to extend their lead back to eight heading to the last.
Back-to-back threes from Dillard and Finn Delany made it a two-point game with five minutes to play, before Kickert appeared to have done enough to seal the result. Enter Dillard.
Bullets 82 (D. Kickert 24, T. Craig 19, T. Jervis 10)
Breakers 84 (K. Dillard 28, K. Penney 19, A. Pledger 10)
Halftime: 43-35
