The Nuggets have lost 16 games on the trot this season but went close to pulling off a remarkable upset against the top-of-the-table Wellington Saints in the capital on Friday.
Having struggled to score much more than 70 points a game, the Nuggets went on a scoring blitz, racking up 99 points.
American import Tyler Amaya had a night to remember, scoring 38 points and grabbing six rebounds, six assists and three steals, and captain Sam To'omata also shot well, drilling 20 points.
But the Saints held their nerve down the stretch and eventually won by four points.
While it was another loss, Arlidge described it as his side's best performance this year.
"I wish you could have been there to see it," he told the Otago Daily Times.
"It was a really good game. For once everything was pretty even. The refereeing was even, the foul count was even, everything was even until the last minute.
"It was our best performance by far."
Arlidge is hopeful his side can recapture that form tonight against the Cougars in Christchurch.
The Cougars are in sixth spot and will be desperate to win to increase their chances of reaching the play-offs. The Nuggets will just be desperate full-stop.
The franchise accepted its comeback season would be a tough year and the losses would come thick and fast.
With a green roster of mostly local players, allowances have to be made. But, regardless, the results have been disappointing.
When you add the nine back-to-back losses the Nuggets suffered in 2008, the franchise has lost 25 consecutive NBL games and won just nine of its last 88 games.
The Nuggets' last win was in April 2008, against the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North.
Only two teams in the history of the NBL have gone through the season without a win.
The Taranaki Mountain Airs lost all of their 16 matches last year and the Northland Suns lost 20 consecutive games in 1998.
There are some positive signs for the Nuggets.
The team's total of 99 was its highest tally this season and it lifted its accuracy, landing 56% of its shots from the floor.
Normally, if a team shoots that well, it could expect to win nine out of 10 games.
The Nuggets will need to shoot well again and keep a close rein on the Cougars' key players to break the drought, Arlidge said.
"If we can close [Paora] Winitana down and stop Jeremy Kench penetrating, which we didn't do last time, and rebound ... I'm pretty sure we'll be in with a sniff."
The Nuggets will be without speedy point guard James Ross and forward Matt Trueman. The pair have exams and will miss the trip to Christchurch.
Ross has shown steady improvement this season and his ability to lift the tempo will be missed.
He is probably the quickest of the Nuggets and his combination with To'omata has developed.
Bench player Luke Aston will have to shoulder more irresponsibility in Ross' absence.
"It's a good chance from him to play 10 to 15min and step up."
The Cougars thrashed the Nuggets 104-71 when they met in round two and have won their last three games, including a 87-76 win against the Harbour Heat.
Australian import Tim Behrendorff will look to use his 2.11m frame to dominate the boards with Kench controlling the pace and Winitana, who has not long returned from an ankle injury, shooting from the outside.
Nuggets v Cougars
Christchurch, tonight, 7pm
Otago Nuggets: John Barber jun, Tyler Amaya, Matt Gillan, Sam To'omata, Tom Rowe, Riki Buckrell, Hayden Miller, Luke Aston, Chris Hepburn.
Christchurch Cougars: Dan Peck, Paora Winitana, Adrian Taylor, Mark Morrison, Aidan Daly, Trenton Wurtz, Lionel Hopgood, Jeremy Kench, Tim Behrendorff.
