The Nuggets slumped to their third consecutive loss with a 97-72 defeat to the Wellington Saints at the Edgar Centre yesterday.
The game attracted a record crowd for a Nuggets' match at the venue, with 2650 fronting for the top-of-the-table clash.
The fans had every right to expect a fantastic game. The Nuggets started the season with eight consecutive wins and have been the league's Cinderella team.
But they fell from that perch with a horrific 114-67 loss to the Southland Sharks 10 days ago and backed up with a limp performance against the Saints which was reminiscent of the bad old days.
Nuggets captain Mark Dickel, who was carrying a minor injury after slipping on some ice, said it was obvious his side was struggling at the moment but there was still time to turn it around before the playoffs later this month.
''Right now we are not good enough,'' Dickel said.
''Sometimes you get what you deserve. We are a little bit down. Some guys are a little bit banged-up and we don't have as much energy as we have had in the past.
''We've done well enough to make the playoffs and we've got to re-commit to the next two weeks. Everybody has to give more of themselves and dedicate themselves completely.
''We'll be fine. We've proven we can play with the best teams, so it is just a matter of getting back to everybody being ready to play, myself included.''
There seemed to be some tension between coach Alf Arlidge and American small forward Akeem Wright after the game. But Dickel played it down saying no-one was happy when the side lost.
''When you are winning, you don't see those problems emerging.
''For Akeem, he struggled a little bit tonight but so did everybody.''
The Nuggets started well enough. They led 19-16 at the break but, in a damaging second quarter, the Saints out-scored the Nuggets 31-10 and that was the winning of the match.
Corey Webster top-scored for the Saints with 21 points. Casey Franks chipped in with 18 and former Breakers centre Rick Rickert collected 16 rebounds and 11 points in a dominant display under the rim.
Antoine Tisby was the best-performed Otago player with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
He reached a couple of significant milestones in the process, claiming his 500th rebound and passing 1000 points for the franchise. His tally now stands at 508 rebounds and 1019 points in 48 games.
Dickel was also energetic with 10 rebounds, eight points, three assists and three steals.
Wright had a tough shooting night and turned the ball over seven times. BJ Anthony struggled as well, landing just three of his 10 attempts from the free throw line.
In all, the Nuggets landed 16 from 28 from the stripe, while the Saints scored 29 of their 32 attempts.
The Saints also dominated the boards, grabbing 47 rebounds to the Nuggets 36.
Veteran forward Dillon Boucher was forced to play point guard with Lindsay Tait sidelined with a suspected broken bone in his left hand. There was certainly nothing rapid about his play but he filled in admirably.
The Nuggets might have expected to make more of that advantage but this is a team which is playing its worst basketball just when the top teams are all getting stronger.
Cinderella might get to go to the ball, but if the Nuggets keep playing as poorly as they are, the prince will not come knocking afterwards.
In other games, the Southland Sharks secured the remaining playoffs spot with a come-from-behind 94-89 win against the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North on Friday night.
They will join the Saints, Nuggets and Nelson Giants in the finals.
The Giants split their matches. They were beaten 104-99 by the Saints on Friday but bounced back with a tense 88-86 win against the Hawkes Bay Hawks on Saturday.
The Taranaki Mountain Airs dispatched the bottom-of-the-table Super City Rangers 114-93 on Saturday, and the Sharks stretched their winning streak to seven games with a 96-85 win against the Waikato Pistons in Hamilton yesterday.
NBL
The scores
Wellington Saints 97
Corey Webster 21, Casey Frank 18, Bryant Markson 15, Arthur Trousdell 15
Otago Nuggets 72
Antoine Tisby 22, Akeem Wright 12, BJ Anthony 11
Quarter scores: 1st 16-19, 2nd 47-29, 3rd 69-49
