Nuggets 76
The chances of resurrecting the Otago Nuggets' slim play-off hopes look bleak after a disastrous second quarter enabled the Harbour Heat to build an unassailable lead at the Lion Foundation Arena on Saturday night.
Former Nugget Hayden Allen scorched 27 points and Australian import Oscar Forman racked up five three-pointers on his way to a haul of 21 points to help the Heat win 92-76 and improve to 7-4.
The Nuggets are 2-10 and will probably need to win all their remaining matches to reach the post-season. Based on Saturday night's performance the prospects of that scenario unfolding look remote.
The home side competed for three periods, thanks mostly to the muscle American import Antoine Tisby provided on the inside. The centre forced his way into the paint for 22 points and eight rebounds.
Fellow American Lemar Gayle had a quiet first half. Unable to shake the Heat's defence the swingman mustered just eight points.
He got some soft points down the stretch and finished with a respectable total of 25. But it was far from the trademark performances which have helped him build a reputation as one of the best imports in the league.
The Nuggets were without starting point guard Nat Connell and bench player Steve Robinson.
The pair returned a positive sample for cannabis following a random Basketball New Zealand drug test after a match last month and were provisionally suspended last week pending the
outcome of a hearing.
Outside of the imports, Connell has easily been the best of the Nuggets and his court leadership was sorely missed.
Shaun Tilby took the point duties from the captain and the 2006 NBL rookie did a reasonable job considering the circumstances. He came up with some good defensive plays but it was immediately obvious the Nuggets were lacking chemistry on offence.
Tisby battered his way to the basket for some early points under the hoop and helped the under-sized Nuggets gain parity in the close exchanges during the first period. But the Nuggets were guilty of giving sharp-shooter Forman too much time and space out wide.
He slapped them on the wrist with a trio of three-pointers.
Gayle's only contribution was a three-pointer in the dying seconds which gave the Nuggets a 20-19 lead going into the break.
Last week Nuggets coach Don Sims said the franchise lacked the domestic talent to seriously compete and that gulf in class became clear during a horrendous second period.
Backing up from a narrow victory against the Canterbury Rams on Friday night the Heat started the second spell with more intent and energy. Allen took over where Forman left off and drained a series of three-pointers as the Heat went on a 15-4 run to out-score the Nuggets 29-16
in the quarter. A big block by Tisby was the only highlight in a woeful 10min spell in which the Nuggets were hopelessly outclassed in every facet.
The Nuggets had their best period of the game following the half-time break and trimmed the deficit to three points midway through the third quarter. Whether it was the effect of some harsh words by Sims or a dash of complacency creeping into the Heat's performance, suddenly the ball started bouncing the Nuggets' way.
Greig got a nice pass from Gayle and slammed the ball down the hole as the home side continued to rally. But a monster three from Forman and a long two from Mika Vukona helped wrest the momentum away.
Leading by 11 points with 10min remaining, the Heat nurtured its advantage.
Allen had the last say when he threw the ball up in the air after the final hooter and it came down and clocked one of the Nuggets players on the head. It was not a knockout blow, but the loss could prove that way for the Nuggets.
Harbour Heat 92 (Hayden Allen 27, Oscar Forman 21), Otago Nuggets 76 (Lemar Gayle 25, Antoine Tisby 22). Quarter 19-20, half-time 48-36, three-quarters 73-62.
