The 31-year-old Australian skipped the impressive 84-80 win over the table-topping Tuatara in Auckland on Sunday.
He had pulled up stiff with a hamstring complaint.
But Nuggets coach Jeff Sparrow confirmed he was good to go for tonight’s game against the bottom-of-the-table Hawke’s Bay Hawks at the Edgar Centre.
“He’s 100%. We were just being cautious because he’s got a history of some hamstring stuff, and he woke up a little bit sore after a crazy finish to the Franklin game,’’ Sparrow said.
The Nuggets took a huge step towards booking a spot in the playoffs. They survived a late rally by the Franklin Bulls in Pukekohe on Friday night to win 92-88, and they snapped the Tuatara’s nine-game winning streak.
A win tonight over the Hawks will secure some playoff action.
It is also the Nuggets’ final home game for the season, and they are after a little revenge.
The Hawks have posted just three wins in 17 games, but one of them was against the Nuggets.
The 91-82 loss in Napier still rankles.
“Yeah, I just think it’s a payback game. That’s all we’re really focused on,’’ Sparrow said.
“They beat us, and that weighs heavily in our minds, no matter how long ago that was.
“So we’re just staying focused on the fact that we owe them one and the fact that [Chase] Jeter is touching the ball a lot more.
“We really have focused on our post defence and making sure that we can bottle him up, because he’s been way, way more assertive the last few games for them.’’
Daniel Grida and Keanu Rasmussen missed the Hawks’ last outing — a 97-88 loss to the Manawatū Jets — and Jeter was forced to carry more of the load.
The Nuggets have had some trouble keeping big centres off the rim.
Grida (back) and Rusmussen (ankle) are listed as questionable. But Sparrow said his side was preparing as if they were going to play.
The other area the Nuggets are focused on is finishing games.
They survived two fightbacks in the last round, but they have dropped some games down the stretch this season.
Sparrow has asked his side to be more available late in the game and to stay aware that when teams get desperate, they press harder.
There is a desire to round out the home campaign on a high note as well.
“Knowing that this is the last one for family and friends, we want to send the people off with a win they can cherish.’’
NBL
Dunedin, 7pm
Otago Nuggets: Alain Louis, Tyson Thata-Paese, Buay Tuach, Ethan Rusbatch, Craig Moller, Isaac Miller-Jose, Matthew Bardsley, Zach McKenzie, Caleb Smiler, Oak Chisholm, Patrick Tipene, Toby Hunt.
Hawke’s Bay Hawks (possible): Kobe Kara, Jacob Murphy, Jeremy McLaughlin, Alonzo Burton, Chase Jeter, Kobe Costley, Balin Casson, Lennox Singh, Maz Taylor, Isaac Allan, Ezrah Eagle, Eddie Deck.
