That should make the Otago Nuggets’ important game against them in Auckland tonight much easier.
But the bad news is the visitors are depleted as well.
Coach Brent Matehaere has been sidelined with Covid, talented point guard Dontae Russo-Nance has a high ankle sprain, and key shot creator Ben Henshall is on international duty with the Australian Boomers.
The game has been stripped of some star power, for sure. Both teams will have to make do with the resources they have available.
Nuggets assistant coach Dan Vlahov will run the cutter in the absence of Matehaere.
He has helped guide the Rapid League team to nine wins from 15 games.
Matthew Bardsley will step up in the absence of Ben Henshall and make his first appearance in the starting five this season.
He is fresh from a competition-record 25 points in the Rapid League last week. He also netted 14 points for the Nuggets later that night.
Bardsley is a very different type of player to Henshall. He looks to get inside to score and the player nicknamed the Slippery Eel will bring a good deal of defensive hustle.
Russo-Nance missed the 101-88 loss to the Taranaki Airs at the Edgar Centre last Wednesday. He picked up an injury during training in what has been a frustrating season.
He was sidelined earlier in the campaign with a wrist injury and now looks set to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Darcy Knox will run the point guard position in his absence and is an experienced campaigner with more than 70 games for the franchise.
Centre Jack Andrew will arrive in Auckland late as he has a family funeral to attend.
Americans Zaccheus Darko-Kelly and Kimani Lawrence complete the starting five. Lawrence has been a consistent performer, while Darko-Kelly has found some improved form of late.
The Tuatara’s depth will certainly been tested as well.
They can still lean on former Tall Black centre Rob Loe. His inside-outside game will present the Nuggets with a tricky defensive challenge.
Australian guard Cam Cliddon will carry more load in the absence of Webster. He is averaging 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds a game on a madly talented roster.
The Tuatara (13-3) beat the Nuggets 87-78 at the Edgar Centre on May 16 and have been the form team in the competition alongside the Canterbury Rams (13-2).
The Nuggets (6-9) are just outside the playoffs spots in seventh place. They need the win to keep the pressure on the Nelson Giants (7-9) and Hawke’ Bay Hawks (6-9) who are also battling to make the playoffs.
NBL
Auckland, 7.30pm
Otago Nuggets: Darcy Knox, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, Matthew Bardsley, Kimani Lawrence, Jack Andrew, Robbie Coman, Josh Aitcheson, Matt Pyper, Joe Ahie, Benji Freeman, Caleb Smiler.
Auckland Tuatara: Cam Cliddon, Braydon Iuli, Charlie Dalton, Nic Barrow, Roe Loe, Tukaha Cooper, Chris McIntosh, Reuben Fitzgerald, Joshua Leger, Jackson Kiss, Jameer Reed, Joshua Wylie.
