The Stars, with a nine-win seven-loss record, took the sixth and last playoff place with a 78-76 win over the Otago Nuggets (two wins, 15 losses) in Dunedin, but Kenny Stone sounded like the coach of an eliminated team.
"Disappointment," he said.
"It felt like a loss, to me it did. The only good thing to come out of the game was that we clinched a playoff spot, but it still felt like a loss. It was a tough game and that seems to happen every game down here (Dunedin).
"If we don't shoot the ball well, if we shoot it like we did last night, you're not going to win many games. So we were lucky to get away with one."
Auckland shot 19 percent (five of 26) three-point attempts and 39 percent (seven of 18) from the free-throw line but got a season-high 37 points from forward Adrian Majstrovich to hold off a fourth quarter Nuggets' fight-back.
Majstrovich, who has battled injuries this season, was able to penetrate the Nuggets zone defence.
The Nuggets had five rookies on their roster and shot 16-of-24 from the field, including three treys.
Auckland can move further up the standings tomorrow when they meet Bay Hawks in Taradale.
Stone said having the toughest finishing schedule, which ends with a match against the Waikato Pistons (12-5) on Thursday, would help them prepare for the playoffs.
The Wellington Saints (14-4) are regular season champions, with the positions of the other playoff sides yet to be decided.
Wellington beat Auckland 117-78 on Thursday and Manawatu Jets 117-78 last night.
Harbour Heat, the Nelson Giants and Hawks also clinched playoff berths.
The Heat shot 17-of-34 three-pointers, from seven different players, as they upset the second-placed Pistons 92-84 in Te Awamutu.
A win in their final game against Taranaki and a Waikato loss to Auckland would see the Heat finish second.
Nelson sealed their fifth consecutive playoff appearance with an 81-72 win over Taranaki, while the Hawks became Canterbury's first victims at home this season, 86-79, but returned to the post-season, also for the fifth consecutive season, courtesy of Taranaki's loss.
