Brayden Inger had just been called for a moving screen, the scoreboard showing the Nuggets holding a small lead.
It should not have been a key moment in the game, but the reaction from the Southland Sharks was telling.
This team looked defeated as it turned around to play defence, Inger notably shaking his head for an extended period after the call.
It gave up two quick cheap fouls, only adding to the frustration.
The Southland players’ body language was clear.
This was a defeated team — and as it crumbled, the hosts pounced.
The Nuggets began picking off passes at will, getting out in transition to take the lead to 18 at the final break.
They ran out 102-87 winners, picking up a ninth win and taking a significant step towards claiming a playoff spot with one game remaining.
"That’s what it is," Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere said.
"If other teams are frustrated, and they show their frustration, we’ve got to make sure we’re putting the foot on the throat and executing in that time.
"That just compounds to a team. Obviously that was us last week.
"We’ve turned that around and put it on another team."
The Nuggets were without an injured Todd Withers, but welcomed back duo Nikau McCullough and Sam Timmins.
They were key, each finishing with 18 points — McCullough torching the Sharks for 12 points in a dominant second quarter.
Import duo Keith Williams and Tray Boyd were similarly influential, putting up 23 and 22 points respectively.
But it was on the glass that the Nuggets really won this one.
They won the rebounding battle 54-33 — Timmins and Andrew having 11 each — while the team hauled in 21 offensive rebounds to the Sharks’ 25 defensive ones, in a telling contrast.
Matehaere was happy with that effort, while also commenting on the defensive effort that led to the missed shots, leading to rebounding opportunities.
"Obviously it’s an up and down season and the guys really came out and fought tonight.
"Southland didn’t really have playoff spots to play for, but they always play with pride and I thought they did a hell of a job making it tough for us.
"Defence wins games, defence wins championships. I think we got back to playing defence and playing with pace. If we can do that, we’ll be in a good place for sure."
The Sharks had the better start, before the Nuggets began to click late in the first quarter.
They shot ahead early in the second, as McCullough hit from deep to spark a dominant run through to halftime.
Otago held a 53-44 lead at the break, although the upperhand was slim at that point.
But as the Sharks’ frustration showed through, the Nuggets pounced.
Williams and Boyd both got to the hoop and made highlight plays in transition, while Matthew Bardsley and Darcy Knox both had some nice moments too.
The Sharks tried to fight back from there and were improved in the fourth quarter.
However, they had left themselves too much to do.
The Nuggets now have a week and a-half off, playing the Franklin Bulls in their final regular season game next Sunday at the Edgar Centre.
NBL
The scores
Otago Nuggets 102
Keith Williams 23, Tray Boyd 22
Southland Sharks 87
Brayden Inger 22, Romaro Gill 12
Quarter scores: 22-22, 53-44, 77-59
