The home side scored back-to-back-to-back three-pointers in about a minute.
Player-coach Mark Dickel drilled the first from the top of the key and southpaw Brendon Polyblank added another two, as the Nuggets sniffed an unlikely win. They had trailed 82-68 and were suddenly within reach.
Some fabulous defence created an opportunity to cut into the lead further. After a melee under the hoop, Nuggets centre Warren Carter made the basket. His side trailed 82-79. It was some comeback and the 1700-strong crowd was roaring.
For most of the match it had been drowned out by a small but vocal band of Giants supporters who chanted throughout the high-paced game.
Giants guard Josh Bloxham had the final say, however, adding a point from the free-throw line. His side is now 7-2 and the Nuggets have slipped to 4-3.
It would have been a travesty had the Nuggets nicked a win at the death, though. The visiting side controlled the game for long periods.
Import Josh Pace bagged 26 points and 12 rebounds despite the attention of classy defender Troy Payne. Veteran Phill Jones, playing in his 359 NBL match, chipped in with 17 points and centre Jamal Boykin was solid with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Polyblank had another strong performance for the Nuggets. The skipper scored 26 points and a couple of memorable three-pointers. Carter brought more hustle this week and got good reward with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The king of assists ''Sparky'' Dickel made nine dishes, five steals and scored 14 points.
The Nuggets bench players had a quiet night with just eight points. There was a new face among them, though.
Tom Rowe made a surprise return. The former Junior Tall Black last played for the Nuggets in 2011. He has been playing senior club rugby for Zingari-Richmond but was called into replace Pita Sowakula.
Sowakula has been going nicely in club basketball but is not considered ready for a role with the Nuggets just yet.
Both sides set a rapid tempo. The Nuggets had clearly lifted their intensity from the 86-84 loss to Taranaki a week earlier.
Dickel started with a fabulous assists, finding Micah Lepaio on a fast break. Lepaio finished with a lay-up and moments later landed his first three-pointer for the season.
The Giants, though, matched the home side. The action was frantic and the quarter was over in a flash with the Giants enjoying a lead of 23-20.
Dickel helped the Nuggets regain the momentum with a couple of steals as the home side outscored its opponent 13-4. But the Giants returned fire and a three-pointer from Bloxham enabled them to retake the lead.
With 10 minutes remaining, the game was in the balance with the Giants leading 63-58. A damaging 10-4 run to the visiting side appeared to have sealed the victory.
The Nuggets have been dreadful from beyond the arc all year and suddenly found some form. Dickel hit the first with an open look. Polyblank followed suit after getting a terrific pass from Dickel. He took his time and made sure it swished through the net.
But having closed to within three, the Giants trapped Dickel and he was called for stepping when he tried to weave his way through two heavy and determined bodies.
In Christchurch, the Hawkes Bay Hawks beat the Canterbury Rams 76-59. Rams point guard Jeremy Kench led all scorers with 17 points. Fellow guard Marco Alexander top-scored for the Hawks with 16 points.
Giants 83 (Josh Pace 26, Phill Jones 17) Nuggets 79 (Brendon Polyblank 26, Warren Carter 22; ) Quarter scores: 23-20, 42-36, 63-58.
