Having lost six consecutive matches to open the National Basketball League, the Nuggets put in one of their best defensive efforts to beat the Manawatu Jets 76-69 in Timaru on Saturday.
‘‘It is always good to get that first win, so from that stand point it is positive,'' Sims said.
‘‘But, actually, we really didn't improve. We still shot 38% from the floor, it's just we hit what you call timely shots and we played really good defence.
‘‘We got some shots to fall at crucial times coming down the stretch, which helped us out. But on the whole our shooting still needs some work done.''
American import Lemar Gayle led all scorers with 25 points and hauled 15 rebounds matching his season average.
Compatriot Jay Anderson will return to the United States this week, with his replacement Antoine Tisby, expected to get his release from Saudi Arabia but will leave on a good note having racked up 20 points and 10 rebounds.
‘‘Jay played well for us and is an excellent individual. I made some phone calls for him and he is going back to play in the IBL [International Basketball League].''
Backing up from a torrid match against the Canterbury Rams on Thursday night the Jets were flat.
Both teams shot below 40% from the field and a key moment came midway through the fourth quarter, when guard Jamie Blake hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Otago the lead.
Brent Charleton and Nat Connell also scored in double figures to help the Nuggets break their drought.
Keith Davis and Miles Pearce both had double-doubles for Manawatu, Davis with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Pearce with 13 and 11. American point guard Kantrail Horton had 14 points and four assists and Stacey Lambert 10 points.
The Nuggets have a tough assignment this week with matches against the Hawkes Bay Hawks (Friday) and the Manawatu Jets (Saturday).
Sims likes the way his side matches up against the Hawks and is eyeing up a rare away win. The Nuggets have not won an away fixture since beating the Canterbury Rams in May 2005.
The match in Timaru on Saturday was classed as a home game with the franchise opting to play two scheduled home games outside Dunedin this year.
Otago Nuggets 76 (Lemar Gayle 25, Jay Anderson 20, Brent Charleton 12, Nat Connell 11) Manawatu Jets 69 (Keith Davis 19, Kantrail Horton 14, Miles Pearce 13, Stacey Lambert 10). Quarter 19-18, halftime 33-40, three-quarters 51-55.
