It is 0 - or oh no - and 32 for the Otago Nuggets.
Another gutsy effort was still not good enough as the Nuggets slipped to a 115-96 loss to the Saints in Wellington on Saturday night. It was the Nuggets' fifth straight loss to start the season, and their 32nd consecutive loss in a streak dating back more than three years.
The game finished in similar circumstances to Friday night's 86-77 loss to the Giants in Nelson.
The Nuggets had gamely fought back from a massive deficit to trail by just three points with seven minutes remaining.
But the Saints went on a 24-5 run to finish the game and obliterate any hope of an upset and a streak-cracking win.
The Nuggets started with confidence and built a nice 15-6 lead. But then the talent on the defending champion Saints roster started to flex its muscle. Led by high-scoring imports Erron Maxey (29 points) and Kareem Johnson (22), the Saints went on a 12-0 run.
The home side led 33-25 at the end of the first quarter and 61-47 at the half.
The Nuggets won the third quarter, 26-24, and played well in the first few minutes of the final quarter, but the comeback was rather spoiled by the flat finish.
Otago's best player was again former Tall Black Craig Bradshaw, who followed his 27-point haul from the Giants game with 26 points and six rebounds. Fellow big man Lance Allred added 22 points, on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor, seven rebounds and three blocks, Sam To'omata rebounded from a poor night in Nelson to make four of his five three-point attempts, and Scott O'Gallagher had 14 points and six assists.
But superior shooting and depth enabled the Saints to run away with the game. The Saints shot 58% from the field and a ridiculous 61% (14 of 23) from beyond the arc.
The Americans were supported on the scoresheet by four other players in double figures. There was also an appearance by New Zealand basketball wunderkind Steve Adams, who struggled offensively but grabbed six rebounds.
There is a Nuggets-Saints rematch at the Edgar Centre on Friday night, with the Saints set to head to Invercargill to play the Sharks the following night.
In Saturday's other game, the Auckland Pirates had to come from behind to beat the Manawatu Jets 87-84.
Kevin Mickens led the Pirates with 21 points. Jeremy Kench had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Jets, while Darryl Hudson and Nick Horvath scored 18 and 17 respectively.
NBL - The scores
• Wellington Saints 115
Erron Maxey 29, Kareem Johnson 22, Corey Webster 16
• Otago Nuggets 96
Craig Bradshaw 26, Lance Allred 22, Scott O'Gallagher 14, Sam To'omata 14
• Quarter 33-25, halftime 61-47, third quarter 85-73.
