NZNBL 2024

FINALS HOPES DOWNED IN WELLINGTON

The Night ’N Day Otago Nuggets’ finals hopes are officially over after a 106-80 road loss to Wellington on Saturday.

Missing stars Ben Henshall, Tai Webster and Dontae Russo-Nance, the Nuggets started strongly but couldn’t sustain it for four quarters against an experienced Saints outfit.

Imports Kimani Lawrence (24 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists) and Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (20 points, five rebounds and two assists) were the Nuggets’ best, combining for 44 points and 10 rebounds.

Big man Jack Andrew was a presence in the paint, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds, while fellow starter Matthew ‘The Slippery Eel’ Bardsley provided his usual energy on the way to 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

It was a see-sawing first term with the Nuggets leading by as much as six points early on before Wellington’s purple patch.

Darko-Kelly produced a stunning half-court buzzer beater to cut the margin back to one point at quarter-time.

Fellow American Lawrence was another big performer in the opening term, scoring a dozen of the Nuggets’ 27 points.

But from there, the home side took charge to outscore the Nuggets comfortably in the remaining three quarters with Ben Ayre, Terry Henderson Jr and Tohi Smith-Milner prominent with 20-plus points apiece.

Otago will get a boost ahead of their next game, away to Nelson on Friday night, with Henshall set to be available after completing an impressive two-game series for the Australian Boomers in Japan.