AFTER trailing at half-time, Otago Nuggets stepped up to the plate against Hawke’s Bay Hawks and scored 50 second half points to run away with the win by 14, 94-80. The Nuggets did hold a marginal one-point lead at quarter time, but then fell three points behind by the main break. There was no question the better side after half-time however, as the Nuggets piled on 50 points to 33, and grabbed their second win of the 2022 New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) competition.

OTAGO NUGGETS 29 | 15 | 30 | 20 (94)
HAWKE’S BAY HAWKS 28 | 19 | 22 | 11 (80)

In a high-scoring start to the Nuggets-Hawks clash, a whopping 57 points were scored, with the Nuggets edging ahead by a point. It had been a quarter that largely belonged to the Hawks, having brought the lead up to as much as 10 points on a couple of occasions. Though the Nuggets fought back to lead – and led throughout the majority of the second term – it would the Hawks who flourished late to take a three-point lead at half-time. Though on paper it looked like the Nuggets start to control play in the third term, the Hawks still held sway for the most part.

With 4:17 left on the clock, Hawks deadeye Derone Raukawa nailed a triple to extend the lead out to nine .69-60. But a dominant last four minutes from Keith Williams – who piled on 10 consecutive points for the Nuggets – as part of a 14-point run to end the quarter, resulted in the home team taking a five-point lead at the final break. Despite the best efforts of the Hawks to keep it close – such as an opening three-pointer from Hyrum Harris – the Nuggets never lost the lead and scored 20 points to 11 in the final term to record a comfortable 94-80.

Otago Nuggets shot at 48 per cent from the field, including 54 per cent from inside the arc, a far higher clip than their Hawks opponents who recorded 34 and 35 per cent respectively. The Nuggets also won the assists (17-11), steals (9-6), blocks (11-2) and dominated the paint with 42 points to 26. The Hawks did manage to get to the charity stripe more and hit a higher percentage of free throws (70 to 65 per cent), as well as score more points from turnovers (12-10) but it would not be enough.

Import Todd Withers earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) with 10 votes from his 30-point, nine-rebound, four-steal, three-block and two-assist performance. Not only did he stuff the stats sheet, but he drained seven of 12 from beyond the arc. His outside ability was well complimented by Williams off the bench, as he put up 23 points – three of six from long-range – and four rebounds. Sam Timmins (17 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and four assists) was equally as enormous for the Nuggets, whilst Tahjere McCall chipped in with seven points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Hawke’s Bay Hawks had an even contribution from their starters with Raukawa putting up a team-high 23 points, as well las five rebounds and four assists. Harris (11 points, 11 rebounds) picked up a double-double in the game, whilst Jordan Hunt helped himself to 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Jack Exeter (!5 points, three assists and two rebounds) and Ethan Rusbatch (13 points, nine rebounds and two assists) were also key contributors in the loss.

Both teams look towards next week, with the Hawke’s Bay Hawks having a quicker turnaround to face Auckland Tuatara on Wednesday, whilst the Otago Nuggets do the double with a Friday night battle against Franklin Bulls, before a Sunday evening clash with Manawatu Jets.