The Otago Nuggets "scratched and clawed'' but did not have the talent to beat the Harbour Heat on Saturday night, coach Don Sims says.
The Nuggets slumped to their 10th loss this season, losing 76-92. The defeat has left their play-off hopes on life support and the coach wondering how he is going to turn the season around.
"You have to play the hand you're dealt so we still got after them and hustled,'' Sims said after the match.
"It is just our talent level is down a little bit. Our kids played hard but they [the Heat] had a couple of spurts.
"And that is what good teams do. They've got plenty of experience, they've got three or four Breakers and they're a tough, well-balanced side.
"If allowed to play their game they are one of the top four or five teams in this league. And with their size they really cause people problems.''
The Nuggets had a far from ideal build-up for the game, with captain and starting point guard Nat Connell provisionally suspended after returning a positive sample for cannabis.
No surprise then the Nuggets lacked cohesion on attack.
"It always hurts when your starting point guard is out, because it disrupts your offence and other people were playing different positions.
But I think Shaun Tilby, who stepped in, did a great job. He's the point guard of the Nuggets now so we'll support him and go from there.
"Guys just have to adjust to their new roles and then, hopefully, they will feel more comfortable than they have been.''
The Nuggets play champion the Nelson Giants in Nelson this Saturday. The Giants will be smarting from a shock 75-80 loss to the Manawatu Jets on Saturday.
The Nuggets need to win at least five of their remaining six games to have any hope of making the play-offs.
