A DOMINANT double-double performance from Tai Wynyard has seen the Taranaki Mountainairs claim an impressive 11-point win over Manawatu Jets in last night’s New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) clash. The Airs only had one win coming into the match, but doubled that total in last night’s bottom two battle, overcoming a Jets side missing big man Shane Temara, resulting in Wynyard racking up a whopping 31 points and 17 rebounds, whilst Marcel Jones also collected a double-double in the 104-93 victory.

The Airs took control of the game early, racing out to a six-point quarter time lead. Making sure not to let the game slip, they really put the foot down in one of their most impressive terms of the year in the second stanza, piling on 31 points to 19 to hold a whopping 18-point advantage at the main break. Both teams were fairly even in the third term, before the Jets grabbed some consolation points to win the last term 32-25, but it was not going to be enough as Taranaki enjoyed the rare win, in front of home fans.

Aside from patches during the first term when the Jets held narrow leads, once the Airs took the advantage late in the term, they never looked back. At one stage the lead got out to 22 points midway through the second quarter, and whilst eventually the Jets reduced the damage by the final buzzer, it was always going to be tough to make up the first half difference.

The Airs hit 50 per cent of their field goal attempts to the jets’ 40 per cent, and nailed 44 per cent (12 of 27) from long-range compared to their opponents’ 24 per cent (eight of 33). Whilst their free throw percentage was shocking (41 to 80 per cent), they comfortably won the rebounds (51-42) and assists (24-13), as well as smashed the Jets in the pain (56-36) and from second chance points (20-12). Both teams had 16 turnovers, but it was the Jets who capitalised more with 23 points to 18, as well as having more steals (12-8) and bench points (17-13).

Wynyard unsurprisingly won Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his 31 points and 17 rebounds – 12 offensive – as he played arguably the best game from a second chance points perspective. Jones had the 23 points – three of eight from outside the arc – 11 rebounds – all defensive – six assists and five steals in an all-round game. Haize Walker (15 points, three assists and two rebounds), Carlin Davison (11 points, eight rebounds and six assists) and Scott Telfer (11 points, two rebounds and two assists) rounded out an overall strong starting five performance.

Daishon Knight was the prominent scorer for the Jets, picking up 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists to be the losing side’s best player. Jayden Bezzant (16 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals), Deandre Daniels (13 points, six rebounds and two blocks) and the long-range shooting of Kalib Marsich-Mullins (14 points – four of 10 from three-point range – and six assists) all stood out. Nikau McCullough had his usual impact off the bench with 13 points, three rebounds and three steals.

Manawatu Jets will need to dust themselves off before a home clash against Canterbury Rams tonight, whilst the Airs will have until Friday to prepare for their home battle with top of the table Wellington Saints.

Picture credit: PhotosportNZ via NZNBL