NZNBL 2024

Ladder leaders down Nuggets

The Night ‘N Day Otago Nuggets went down to Sal’s NBL ladder leaders Auckland 87-78 at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre on Thursday night.

The Nuggets fought their way back from 12 points down in the third quarter to snatch the lead before the Tuatara steadied for their seventh win in a row.

It was billed as the showdown of the Webster brothers, but Auckland veteran Corey had the last laugh over his younger brother Tai, scoring a game-high 22 points in an easy win.

The major silver lining to take out of the result was the performance of teenager Dontae Russo-Nance, in just his third game back from a wrist injury.

The former New Zealand Basketball League Rookie of the Year made the most of his time on court, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in 20 minutes against his old team.

Import Kimani Lawrence (16 points and 10 rebounds) fought hard all night on the way to a double-double, with his presence especially important during the third-quarter comeback.

Fellow big man Jack Andrew (10 points, seven rebounds and two steals) also contributed in a losing cause, while Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (18 points, five rebounds and two steals) finished strongly.

The Nuggets started slowly but young gun Russo-Nance provided a first-quarter spark off the bench with a steal followed by an and-one.Russo-Nance, who also nailed a late triple after collecting his own offensive rebound, helped the hosts turn a six-point deficit into a 21-all quarter-time score.

The Wildcats development player had a remarkable seven points, four rebounds, one assist and a steal in four-and-a-half minutes in the opening term.

Auckland went on an 8-0 run early in the second term as they took control of the contest on their way to a 41-31 lead as Corey Webster and Rob Loe ran riot.

Lawrence was doing his bit to try and cut the Tuatara’s lead in half, from 12 to 6 in a matter of minutes.

Henshall then hit a triple and it was just three points the margin as turnovers began to creep into the visitors’ game.

The Australian youngster was at it again, draining two of his three free throws to give Otago a shock lead.

But things took another turn as Corey Webster a 7-0 run for the ladder leaders as the margin went back out to 10 points at the final change.

The Nuggets finished well but it was too little, too late as Auckland’s winning streak continued.

The match was Tai Webster’s last for the time being as he travels to the US for the birth of his second child.

In the Rapid League, Robbie Coman led Otago to a thrilling 27-25 victory.Coman scored a game-high 14 points with Matthew Bardsley (four points, five rebounds and two assists) contributing plenty at both ends of the floor including an important defensive effort in the dying seconds.

Otago’s next assignment is against Southland Sharks on May 25, their first of three consecutive away games.