NZL - Meltdown

AUCKLAND (NBL) - The balance of power shifted in the Dominion Finance NBL on a night when the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat crashed to their first defeat of the season and the still importless Youthtown Auckland Stars pulled off another miraculous victory.

American Josh Pace starred with 23 points (9/14 FG, 2/5 3pt, 5/11 FT), 10 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks for the rampant Blue Chip Nelson Giants as they overwhelmed Harbour 83-59 on the road, ending their seven-game winning streak.

The visitors never trailed, but were only one point up nearing the end of the third quarter. Ahead 59-53 entering the final period, they got on a roll when Pace converted a three-point play and Chris Daniel struck from beyond the arc.

Nelson closed out the game with a 17-3 run, holding the Heat to just six points in the last term and 31% FG for the game.

Daniel finished with 18 points (including 4/8 3pt), while Aussie Tim Behrendorff had 14 points to lead Harbour.

Nelson (8-3), who defeated defending champions Easy LPG Bay Hawks in their previous outing, head south to face TET Taranaki Mountain Airs on Friday, while the Heat (7-1) have a week to regroup before visiting U Park It Waikato Pistons next Thursday.

While Harbour's demise was dramatic, it didn't rate compared to events unfolding in the capital, where the depleted Stars edged Century City Wellington Saints 108-106, even after NZ Tall Black forward Casey Frank was ejected in the fourth quarter.

Frank and Saints import Bakari Hendrix were both tossed after a heated and physical confrontation that continued into the corridor as the offenders headed to the locker rooms for early showers. There will likely be judicial repercussions.

Auckland guard Lindsay Tait continued his push for the league scoring title with 32 points and 10 assists, his third consecutive haul over 30 points.

The Stars were ahead 86-77 entering the last period, but Saints quickly closed within one and were only three down with 17 seconds remaining and possession. They could not come up with a play to at least force overtime.

Stars guard Josh Clark, promoted to the starting five in the absence of imports, had the best game of his NBL career with 25 points, including 5/7 3pt.

For Wellington, American-born Tall Black aspirant Nick Horvath topscored with 29 points (10/13 FG, 9/12 FT).

Auckland (9-2) remain on top of the table and have more than a week to sign replacement imports before they take on Taranaki on the road on May 12. Saints must gather themselves, not only from the loss, but also the aftermath, before hosting Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams on Saturday.

Canterbury climbed clear of the bottom of the table with a morale-boosting 80-70 win over southern rivals Cartridge World Otago Nuggets at home.

American Michael Joiner led all scorers with 23 points, adding 10 rebounds for a "double double", as the Rams avenged as loss to the Nuggets earlier in the season.

Canterbury seized the lead with a 24-11 second quarter and held on for their second victory of the year.

American Branduinn Fullove had 21 points for Otago, while Miles Pearce (11 points/10 rebounds) and Darryl Jones (10 points/14 reboundsd) both registered "double doubles".

The Nuggets (1-10) host the Giants next Friday. 

 
Dominion Finance NBL


North Shore

Blue Chip Nelson Giants 83 (Josh Pace 23, Chris Daniel 18, Michael Fitchett 14, Marcus Watts 11)
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 59 (Tim Behrendorff 14, Oscar Forman 10, Nat Connell 10)


 
Wellington

Youthtown Auckland Stars 108 (Lindsay Tait 33, Josh Clark 24, Casey Frank 19)
Century City Wellington Saints 106 (Nick Horvath 29, Troy McLean 16)


Christchurch

Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams 80 (Michael Joiner 23, Jeremy Kench 17, Mychal Green 16, Paul McFarlin 10)
Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 70 (Branduinn Fullove 21, Justin Bailey 19, Miles Pearce 11, Darryl Jones
10)
 
Standings

Youthtown Auckland Stars 9 2
Blue Chip Nelson Giants 8 3
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 7 1
Easy LPG Bay Hawks 6 4
Century City Wellington Saints 6 4
U Park It Waikato Pistons 4 4
TET Taranaki Mountain Airs 4 7
Scenic Circle Canterbury Rams 2 7
Inspire Net Manawatu Jets 2 7
Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 1 10

Grant Chapman