The seesaw match was firmly in the balance when the Nuggets forward landed the crucial triple.
The Manawatū Jets threatened to pinch victory late at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin tonight.
McKenzie’s effort was welcomed with a ferocious cheer from the nearly 1400 spectators and helped the Nuggets clinch a tense 99-96 win.
They remain the only unbeaten team in the league, having posted four consecutive wins.
The crowd made a lot of noise when Jamal Poplar jun fouled out as well.
The Jets forward banged in 25 points, and classy guard Kaden Sand also netted 25 points but also fouled out.
Nuggets captain Ethan Rusbatch top-scored for the home team with 23 points, and Buay Tuach added 22.
The Nuggets played from behind for a decent chunk of the game.
Sand made his way to the hoop for an early dunk. He exploded past his marker with a fantastic turn of speed and burst of energy. He slotted a mid-range jumper soon after to send a signal to the home team.
The Jets had an early edge and they stretched it into a 14-7 lead midway through the quarter.
The Nuggets responded with a couple of buckets under the lid and a three from Rusbatch.
That scoring spree was brought to you by a couple of big defensive plays.
The Jets meant business as well. They swatted away back-to-back blocks and nursed a 22-21 lead at the break.
Poplar Jn forced his way to the rim early in the second quarter. He was dictating terms in the paint and Sand’s speed was a major issue as well.
The Jets built a lead again, but Tuach connected with a brace of triples, Isaac Miller-Jose cut along the baseline and banged in a lay-up, and Rusbatch attacked the basket.
The Jets led 54-50 at halftime.
Sand and Poplar Jn had combined for 32 points.
Tuach drained a three from the top of the key and another from the corner to help the Nuggets snatch the lead.
Alain Louis muscled the ball in from under the hoop and flexed for the crowd.
The Nuggets had clawed back some crucial momentum to lead 77-70 with 10 minutes to play.
But no-one was moving from the edge of their seat.
Matthew Bardsley is the master of the reverse lay-up. He slipped along the baseline and finished with his trademark shot.
He got fouled as well and added the extra.
The Jets briefly regained the lead, but Sand and Poplar both fouled out shortly after.
That should have been the game. But the match game remained tight.
The Nuggets kept missing free throws. They had a poor night from the charity stripe.
But McKenzie landed his first three of the night and Tuach dunked an alley-oop in the final minute.
■ The Nuggets thumped the Jets 53-33 in the Rapid League game. Toby Hunt poured in a game-high 20 points for the home team.
The scores
Otago Nuggets 99 (Ethan Rusbatch 23, Buay Tuach 22)
Manawatū Jets 96 (Kaden Sand 25, Jamal Poplar Jn 25)
Quarter scores: 21-22, 50-54, 77-70, 99-96
