They ran simple but effective attacking plays, got into scoring positions and dropped the ball through the hole.
They did not look anything like the team that had lost its past nine matches, most of them by a comfortable margin.
A crowd of about 900 steeled themselves for the final 10min. Sadly, normal service resumed in the final period. With the Nuggets trailing the highly rated Wellington Saints 72-70, the shots stopped dropping, the shot clock seemed to speed up and the side's attack withered.
The Saints were expected to demolish the under-strength home side, which was missing four players who were representing Otago at the national under-21 championships in Nelson.
The visitors won comfortably enough in the end, but the 94-80 victory was far from a vintage performance.
Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge did his best to dampen expectations during the week, saying he would be happy if his side managed to compete against the talent-laden Saints. But it went much better than expected.
"I think in the first half we were very good. Excellent, couldn't ask for more even though we were down by nine," he said.
"The third quarter, again I think we were OK. It was just that last quarter, sadly. We got tired."
Arlidge was pleased with the players who came in, such as center Chris Hepburn and guard Mitch McRae, and he said Steve Robinson did some good work when he was on the court. But it was the two United States imports who deserve most of the credit for nearly engineering an upset.
Tyler Amaya top-scored for the Nuggets with 31 points, his biggest haul for the franchise. He also made six assists, two steals and grabbed seven boards.
John Barber jun shared some of the limelight with 24 points, 12 rebounds, an assist and three steals. He came alive in the third quarter with some unbelievable shooting, landing four three-pointers in a 20-point effort.
Captain Sam To'omata scored 13 points and five assists in a commendable display.
For the Saints, star import Eric Devendorf shone, scoring 31 points. Centre Nick Horvath used his powerful 2.08m frame to muscle in 24 points and snatch nine boards, and Tall Blacks Lindsay Tait and Casey Frank scored 10 apiece.
Amaya stamped his authority on the game early, drilling back-to-back three-pointers and scoring 15 points in a superb opening stanza.
Not to be outdone, Barber went the length of the court, threading his way through traffic to score what, in the end, was an easy basket. That forced Saints coach Pero Cameron to called an overdue time out.
Down 21-12, the Saints outscored the Nuggets 12-3 and the sides went into the first break level at 24-24.
Amaya picked up where he left off, dunking an offensive rebound and showing up wherever his side needed him.
Midway through the second quarter, the Saints started to edge ahead. Horvath used his bulk to assert himself on the match, grabbing some crucial boards and scoring 12 points in the period to help establish a 49-40 lead by halftime.
Just before the break, both sides let themselves down with an unseemly display. Amaya and George Le'afa had an altercation which ended with Le'afa clinging to Amaya' ankles and wrestling him to the ground.
Wellington's Leon Henry decided to chip in and was lucky to escape without penalty, but his involvement led to the the scuffle escalating. It amounted to little more than posturing and a push and shove, but the referees handed technical fouls to both Amaya and Le'afa.
Barber stole the limelight in the third quarter with some remarkable shooting. He started with a regulation three-pointer. Nothing special, but the next two were certainly that. Having attempted to drive to the basket and been pushed into the corner, he still found a way to get the ball over the defence and in the hoop.
Amaya stayed busy with eight points as the Nuggets piled on 30 points to close to within two with 10min left.
Out of puff and out of ideas, the Nuggets fell away in the final period to extend their losing streak to 19 games (10 this season and nine in 2008; they were not in the league in 2009). They have not won since they beat the Manawatu Jets 100-81 in Palmerston North on April 12, 2008.
- Saints 94 (Eric Devendorf 31, Nick Horvath 24), Nuggets 80 (Tyler Amaya 31, John Barber jun 24). Quarter 24-24, halftime 49-40, third quarter 72-70.
In other games last night, the Bay Hawks beat the Nelson Giants 80-54 and the Waikato Pistons beat the Christchurch Cougars 88-83.
• The Otago men's team had a superb day at the national under-21 championships in Nelson yesterday, beating Tauranga City 79-47 to make the quarterfinals, in which they dispatched Wellington 89-65.
The women's team did not fare so well, suffering a heavy 80-35 loss to Harbour.
