A MASSIVE triple-double to big man Sam Timmins has helped Otago Nuggets grab an important win on the road and keep in touch with the top few sides in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). Sitting fourth heading into the contest, the Nuggets needed to grab the points to stay within striking distance of the top three sides and hold off their nearest rivals. Those rivals included their opponents Canterbury Rams, who sunk to a 4-5 record following last night’s loss, with Otago securing the 13-point victory, 95-82.

In front of almost 1400 fans, the Nuggets silenced the crowd early with a dominant 27-15 quarter to race out to a 12-point lead at quarter time. They maintained that control early in the second term, extending their advantage out to 15 points, before the Rams stormed home to cut the deficit back to just three points at half-time. In a surprise turnaround, Canterbury actually hit the front early in the third and looked like they were going to start building momentum at Cowles Stadium.

Instead, it was the Nuggets who then took hold of the contest, with a dominant run to get back out to a 13-point advantage at the final break following a 28-18 third term. While the Rams managed to get it back into a single digit deficit early in the fourth stanza, they could not sustain it as the Nuggets blew the lead right out to 20 at one stage. The Rams did hit back to cut the final margin to just 13, it was too little, too late and they went down.

Otago Nuggets shot at 51 per cent from the field, higher than the Rams’ 46 per cent. Neither side was particularly dominant from long-range, but both were highly effective from inside the arc. In particular, the Nuggets piled on 60 of their 95 points from inside the paint, whilst the Rams added 48 from 82 in the same area. Canterbury lead the points from turnovers (16-15), but otherwise it was the Nuggets all the way, winning the rebounds (40-37), assists (25-19), blocks (4-2), second chance points (11-9) and bench points (13-12).

Timmins was the clear best on the court with a whopping 18 points, 18 rebounds – 15 defensive – 10 assists, three blocks and two steals in an enormous performance from the Nuggets. They had plenty of contributors though, with Isaiah Moss (24 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals) and Gerasimos McKay (21 points, eight rebounds and two assists) both putting up good numbers. Richie Rodger (12 points, five assists and three rebounds) and Josh Aitcheson (seven points, four assists) also looked strong from the starting line-up.

For the Rams, Deshon Taylor had another big night with 21 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals, leading the way from Quintin Bailey (18 points, five rebounds and two assists) and EJ Singler (16 points, six rebounds). Derek Albertsen (11 points, three rebounds and two assists) also hit double-figure points, whilst Alex Talma was influential off the boards with six rebounds to go with his four points.

Otago Nuggets will have a 48-hour turnaround to face Hawkes Bay Hawks tomorrow night, while the Rams travel to take on last placed Taranaki Mountainairs on Sunday afternoon.

Picture credit: PhotosportNZ via NZNBL