When it mattered the most, the Otago Nuggets found something extra on defence and a magic play from Brendon Polyblank helped seal a dramatic 97-91 overtime win against the Hawkes Bay Hawks at the Edgar Centre last night.
American swingman Troy Payne had a huge defensive game, coming up with 10 defensive rebounds and five steals.
Rangy centre Warren Carter also scooped up four steals and made eight defensive rebounds.
But it was an astonishing shot from Polyblank that was perhaps the most telling play.
With the Nuggets leading 87-85 midway through overtime, the Otago captain was forced wide but hit a tough fade-away jumper over a forlorn defender and drew the foul.
The league veteran has probably hit hundreds of shots like it during his career but it still seemed miraculous all the same.
He drilled the extra, of course, extending the Nuggets' lead to five points with about two minutes remaining.
In the frantic final stages, Payne kept coming up with rebounds and made a beautiful intercept, as well.
A crowd of perhaps 1700 made enough noise for twice as many people and celebrated a critical win for the Nuggets (4-1). The Hawks are a very good side and Nuggets assistant coach Carl Dickel was at pains to point that out.
''We do defend much better in practice,'' Dickel said.
''But obviously, it is different when you've got real live opposition against you. It is much harder and so it proved tonight.
''They spread us out and did a good job of making us defend the full court and we didn't do a very good job of it. We allowed them too much room ... and that is why it was so difficult for us.
''They are a tough team and they are going to be there or thereabouts, no doubt.''
Both teams had an opportunity to win the game in regulation time.
The Nuggets led 80-79 with just under 11 seconds remaining.
Player-coach Mark Dickel inbounded it to Polyblank, who either ran off the court or received a shove.
The referees ruled the former, much to the Nuggets' disgust.
The Hawks used a time out to advance the ball to the half court.
Mark Dickel was called for a foul on Darryl Jones and fouled out.
Jones missed his first free throw but levelled the game with his second.
With time all but up, Carter tried to connect with a floater but could not find the basket.
''We had our issues during the game but we were very solid in overtime.
''We've got a lot of improvements to make ... but we do have a strong base to work from. We want to make [our home court] a fortress, and I think any team that comes down here and plays us will know all about it,'' Dickel said.
Guard Marco Alexander top-scored for the Hawks with 20 points and import Dustin Scott registered a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hawks' outside shooters combined for eight from 21 from three-point range and the visitors did not dominate in the paint as they might have hoped.
The Nuggets got 40 points on the inside; the Hawks got 42.
Carter (21 points, 12 rebounds), Payne (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Mark Dickel (12 assists, 11 points) bagged double-doubles and King was strong off the bench with 16 points.
The star, though, was Polyblank with 25 points.
He worked the ball into the hoop and lobbed in plenty of his trademark hook shots but that fade-away jumper will stick in the memory for a long time.
In Timaru, the Canterbury Rams also needed overtime to prevail 101-92 against the Manawatu Jets.
The Taranaki Mountain Airs ended their four-game losing streak with a 71-69 win against the Waikato Pistons on Thursday night.
NBL
The scores
Nuggets 97
Brendon Polyblank 25, Warren Carter 21
Hawks 91
Marco Alexander 21, Dustin Scott 18
Quarter scores: 21-20, 38-39, 58-62, 80-80
