The Otago Nuggets ground out a fifth consecutive win in the National Basketball League with a hard-fought 93-89 win against the Auckland Tuatara in Auckland last night.
The match did not always go as planned.
For Weeks — Jarrad Weeks that is — it looked like the home side might have too much fire power.
Weeks poured in 35 points in a sensational effort. The home side led at every quarter break except the last one.
The Nuggets locked in on defence in the second half, restricting the Tuatara to 36 points.
That is where the game was won.
That, and some nice shooting from range in the stretch.
Todd Withers knocked down a trio of three-pointers in the final quarter to finish the game with 22 points.
Michael Harris came alive in the second half and he hit a three from deep in the final seconds to help secure the win.
He got his tally up to 21.
JaQuori McLaughlin chipped in with 20 points and drove to the hoop well.
Weeks amassed 13 points in the opening period as the Tuatara took control.
McLaughlin and Withers knocked down early threes to keep the Nuggets in touch.
But Auckland centre Rob Loe got involved with a block and bucket at the other end.
Trailing 32-23 at the break, the Nuggets got a couple of defensive stops early in the second stanza to put dent in the lead.
Darcy Knox nailed a three from the top of the key to close the gap further.
But Weeks was proving unstoppable. He popped in another couple of threes to wrestle back the momentum.
Auckland led 53-44 at halftime and that is when the television coverage cut out.
Pity that, because the Nuggets made a mini run through Harris, and late threes by Withers and Robbie Coman cut the deficit to 71-65 with 10 minutes to play.
Coverage returned for the final quarter, albeit without commentary for most of it.
Sometimes words are just pitifully inadequate anyway. What happened was the Nuggets tightened up on defence and started dropping in three-pointers.
Rumours Tall Blacks guard Tai Webster will pop up at the Nuggets reached commentators Justin Nelson and Casey Frank, who discussed it on Sky’s Hoop Heads programme.
Webster would certainly add to the Nuggets’ offensive potential and boost their prospects of defending their title.
NBL
The scores
Otago Nuggets 93 Todd Withers 22, Michael Harris 21
Auckland Tuatara 89 Jarrad Weeks 35, Reuben Te Rangi 15
Quarter scores: 23-32, 44-53 (21-21), 65-71 (21-18), 93-89 (28-18).
