Otago Nuggets forward Jordan Ngatai drilled a three-pointer with about 12 seconds remaining to help seal a tense 104-100 win against the Manawatu Jets in Auckland last night.
It was the franchise’s first game in the National Basketball League since it pulled out of the tournament for financial reasons in 2014.
While Ngatai landed the critical basket in the historic match, it was veteran point guard
Jarrod Kenny who dragged the Nuggets back into the contest.
The Tall Black really began imposing his will during the crucial third period and finished up with 28 points. He had plenty of help from the bench, who chipped in for a combined 31 points.
Ngatai finished with 19 points. He got into foul trouble and has had better shooting nights. But he stayed in the game and popped up to make what was effectively the game-winning shot.
For the Jets, Jayden Bezzant (30 points) and Thomas Vodanovich (28 points, 14 rebounds) proved difficult to contain.
"It is pretty special, really," coach Brent Matehaere said.
"Obviously, there is a lot of hard work that has gone in from the office and all those people who had really worked hard to get us here.
"It will be a really special moment for them as well."
The Nuggets started like a team that had not played for the best part of 2200 days.
The first five minutes were difficult viewing for the fans.
"They were difficult viewing for the coach as well," Matehaere said.
"But I thought JK [Kenny] really stepped up in terms of his leadership and brought the guys together.
"He came out and hit some big shots and obviously Jordan Ngatai hit that last one to take us four ahead and really put a lot of pressure on."
The Jets shot out to 16-4 lead thanks to some lovely outside shooting from Vodanovich, while Bezzant had made some silky drives to the hoop.
Ngatai struggled early and instead it was Kane Keil (12 points) who helped get the scoreboard moving for Otago. He nailed back-to-back three-pointers and Benoit Hayman added some spark from the bench with a couple of buckets.
The Nuggets went into the quarter break with a 25-24 lead.
Both sides kept moving the ball quickly and firing from the perimeter. But the Nuggets’
fluctuating fortunes dived midway through the period. The Jets posted 11 unanswered points to turn a growing deficit into a useful 57-51 halftime lead.
Otago slipped further behind before Kenny willed himself towards the rim and drew a foul.
He got the basket and the extra and it was much needed. The 34-year-old was back in the action moments later. This time he nailed a three-point jumper.
His points tally snuck up and almost without effort he wrestled back some control for the Nuggets. And if to highlight his importance to the cause he hit a late three-pointer.
The Nuggets led 78-73 with a quarter remaining.
But with Ngatai in foul trouble, the Jets got back on level terms and even edged ahead.
The match was in the balance when he returned to court and sealed the win.
The Nuggets will have no
time to dwell on their victory as they play the Nelson Giants tonight.
Taranaki Mountainairs beat the Franklin Bulls 107-95 in the second game last night.
