Antoine Tisby produced another fine double-double but the Otago Nuggets were powerless to stop the Nelson Giants rolling to a 92-60 win last night.
Tisby had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Nuggets, who fell to 0-3 in their comeback season in the National Basketball League.
Fellow American Tyler Amaya had 16 points and six boards, but the next highest scorer on an anaemic Otago scoresheet had just four points.
The Nuggets started much better than last week, holding the Giants to 22-14 after the first quarter and 42-29 at halftime.
But Nelson, led by Michael Harrison (23 points and 10 rebounds) and Phill Jones (18 points), finished strongly to lead 57-39 at the three-quarter mark and pour in 35 points in the final quarter.
The Nuggets did not help themselves with their terrible shooting - just 32% - from the floor.
The Southland Sharks celebrated their first points in their debut season with an 85-79 win over the Hawks in Taradale.
In New Plymouth, the Mountain Airs beat the Cougars 84-62, while the remorseless Heat pounded the Saints 115-95 on the North Shore.
The Waikato Pistons beat the Cougars 104-74 in Te Awamutu on Thursday night.
• New Zealand Breakers guard Kirk Penney has been named in the Australian NBL's All-NBL first team for a third time.
Penney, last season's MVP, shares top billing in the five-man team with Townsville Crocodiles point guard Corey Williams who was selected as 2009-10's most valuable player when the NBL held its awards function in Melbourne last night.
Penney and Williams are joined by Wollongong Hawks point guard Tywain McKee plus forwards Mark Worthington (Melbourne Tigers) and Shawn Redhage (Perth).
Penney's New Zealand Breakers team-mate, Dillon Boucher, was voted the league's best defensive player. Boucher recorded 37 steals, 12 blocks and 74 defensive rebounds.
Gordie McLeod, from beaten finalist Wollongong, was named coach of the year.
MVP Williams averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31 games this season.
