NBL Round 7 (Regular Season): Bulls are upset by Airs

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Bulls (5-2) and fifth ranked Airs (5-2) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Bulls were defeated by Airs in New Plymouth 90-76. Airs made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game, while Bulls only scored seven points from the stripe. Australian power forward Samson Froling (212-2000, college: Creighton) fired 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winners. International guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) chipped in 20 points. Airs' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Luther Muhammad (190-1999, college: Arizona St.) produced 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for lost side. Airs have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Rams and Bulls. Airs is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Sharks (#11) in Southland in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bulls will play at home against Sharks (#11) and are hoping to win this game.
Leader Tuatara delivered the seventh victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Hawks (3-4) 120-96 in Auckland. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 31 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists. Corey Webster contributed with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners. The former international forward Jordan Ngatai (200-1993, college: BYU-Hawaii) answered with 25 points and 9 rebounds for Hawks. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tuatara (7-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place. Hawks at the other side dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. Tuatara will play against Jets (#10) in Palmerston North in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Hawks will play at home against Nuggets and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Sharks (0-8) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-79 loss to seventh ranked Giants (3-5) in Southland on Friday evening. It was a great evening for Theo Akwuba who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. Giants' coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side Callum McRae responded with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. Despite that victory Giants went down to eighth position due to points difference. Sharks lost their eighth game in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost. Giants will meet league's second-placed Saints in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Sharks will play against Airs (#3) in New Plymouth and hope to get finally their first victory.

Other games of round 7 were very predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Nuggets were defeated by Rams in Christchurch 96-85. Nuggets beat Giants at home 107-94. Saints destroyed Jets on the opponent's court 107-82.
The best stats of 7th round was 26 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals by Lat Mayen of Saints.



Rams - Nuggets 96-85

Everything could happen in Christchurch at the game between two tied teams. Both fifth ranked Rams and 6th ranked Nuggets had identical 4-2 record. This time Rams used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Dunedin 96-85 on Thursday night. Rams outrebounded Nuggets 47-29 including a 35-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rams looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a great evening for Australian Lachlan Olbrich (208-2003, college: UC Riverside) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 16 rebounds. International guard Taylor Britt (187-1996, college: Southeast CC) helped adding 17 points and 5 assists. Five Rams players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international guard Tai Webster (193-1995, college: Nebraska) responded with 40 points (!!!) and American Kimani Lawrence (202-1998, college: Arizona St.) scored 18 points. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Rams. Defending champion (5-2) moved-up to third place, which they share with Airs and Bulls. Nuggets lost their third game in a row. They keep the sixth position with three games lost. Rams will meet at home Airs (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Nuggets will play against Hawks in Tamatea and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: T.Webster 40+2reb+3ast, K.Lawrence 18+4reb+2ast, A.Jack 7+3reb+1ast, H.Ben 6+7reb+7ast, Z.Darko-Kelly 6+6reb, R.Coman 5
Rams: M.Walker 18+3reb+3ast, T.Britt 17+3reb+5ast, K.Buffen 13+11reb, L.Olbrich 13+16reb+3ast, I.Kaia 10+4reb+7ast, B.Walter 9+6reb+1ast

Sharks - Giants 79-89

Bottom-ranked Sharks (0-8) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-79 loss to seventh ranked Giants (3-5) in Southland on Friday evening. They made 20-of-20 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Giants forced 19 Sharks turnovers. It was a great evening for American forward Theo Akwuba (211-2000, college: Ole Miss) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. The former international guard Alexander McNaught (185-2002) helped adding 14 points and 5 assists. Giants' coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side center Callum McRae (216-1999, college: Sacramento St.) responded with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists and American guard Caleb Asberry (190-2000, college: OK State) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Despite that victory Giants went down to eighth position due to points difference. Sharks lost their eighth game in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost. Giants will meet league's second-placed Saints in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Sharks will play against Airs (#3) in New Plymouth and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Sharks: C.McRae 21+13reb+8ast, C.Asberry 15+6reb+5ast, A.Burton 13+1reb+2ast, M.Lotts 12+4reb+1ast, H.Benjamin 7+4reb+1ast, T.Scott 7+2reb+1ast
Giants: M.Alexander 14+1reb+5ast, D.Grida 14+3reb+2ast, S.Dempster 13+3reb, T.Ingham 11+1reb+1ast, D.Fotu 11+1reb+2ast, D.Nick 10+1reb

Airs - Bulls 90-76

The game between second ranked Bulls (5-2) and fifth ranked Airs (5-2) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Bulls were defeated by Airs in New Plymouth 90-76. Airs made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game, while Bulls only scored seven points from the stripe. Australian power forward Samson Froling (212-2000, college: Creighton) fired 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winners. International guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) chipped in 20 points. Four Airs players scored in double figures. Airs' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Luther Muhammad (190-1999, college: Arizona St.) produced 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international power forward Samuel Timmins (211-1997, college: Washington) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Airs have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Rams and Bulls. Airs is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Sharks (#11) in Southland in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bulls will play at home against Sharks (#11) and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Bulls: L.Muhammad 19+6reb+4ast, S.Timmins 12+9reb+3ast, E.Rusbatch 11+4reb, J.Scott 10+1reb+2ast, B.Darrell 9+7reb+3ast, D.Kelman-Poto 8+3reb+1ast
Airs: S.Froling 28+9reb+4ast, F.Cameron 20+4reb+2ast, E.Minnie 15+3reb+1ast, D.Raukawa 14+1reb+2ast, M.McCarron 6+6reb+10ast, T.Cameron 6+2reb

Tuatara - Hawks 120-96

Leader Tuatara delivered the seventh victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Hawks (3-4) 120-96 in Auckland. Tuatara players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international power forward Robert Loe (211-1991, college: St.Louis) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 31 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international Corey Webster (188-1988, college: Lambuth) contributed with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners. The former international forward Jordan Ngatai (200-1993, college: BYU-Hawaii) answered with 25 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Isaiah Moore (185-2000, college: USA) added 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in the effort for Hawks. Five Tuatara and four Hawks players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tuatara (7-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place. Hawks at the other side dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. Tuatara will play against Jets (#10) in Palmerston North in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Hawks will play at home against Nuggets and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hawks: J.Ngatai 25+9reb+3ast, I.Moore 23+5reb+6ast, L.Sutherland 17+3reb+1ast, J.Roberts 13+10reb+1ast, K.Rasmussen 9+3ast, K.Kobe 6+6reb
Tuatara: T.Vodanovich 31+3reb+1ast, R.Loe 31+18reb+5ast, C.Gliddon 22+4reb+3ast, C.Webster 19+7reb+11ast, R.Te Rangi 12+6reb+4ast, C.Dalton 2

Nuggets - Giants 107-94

The game between closely ranked teams ended with sixth ranked Nuggets' (4-3) home victory over 7th ranked Giants (3-5) 107-94 on Sunday. Nuggets outrebounded Giants 42-31 including a 33-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for Australian swingman Ben Henshall (195-2004) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. American Kimani Lawrence (202-1998, college: Arizona St.) helped adding 30 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) responded with 31 points and 7 rebounds and the former international forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) scored 22 points and 8 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Giants' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Nuggets maintains sixth place with 4-3 record. Loser Giants dropped to the eighth position with five games lost. Nuggets will meet Hawks (#7) in the next round. Giants will play against the league's second-placed Saints in Wellington and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Giants: D.Grida 31+7reb+2ast, D.Fotu 22+8reb+2ast, M.Alexander 11+3reb+5ast, K.Langley 10+4ast, S.Dempster 9+2reb, T.Akwuba 8+9reb
Nuggets: H.Ben 31+10reb+4ast, K.Lawrence 30+8reb+1ast, Z.Darko-Kelly 15+8reb+7ast, T.Webster 15+4ast, A.Jack 9+10reb, D.Knox 3+2reb+1ast

Jets - Saints 82-107

Very expected game in Palmerston North where 10th ranked Jets (1-7) were rolled over by second ranked Saints (6-1) 107-82 on Sunday. Saints dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Jets' 48. Saints forced 19 Jets turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. It was a great evening for South Sudanese-Australian forward Lat Mayen (206-1998, college: Nebraska) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. International guard Izayah Mauriohooho-Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) helped adding 13 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Saints players scored in double figures. At the losing side forward Liam Judd (196-2001) responded with 30 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Mustapha Heron (196-1997, college: St.John's) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Saints. They maintain second place with 6-1 record behind leader Tuatara. Jets lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the tenth position with seven games lost. Saints will meet at home Giants (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Jets will play against the league's leader Tuatara in Auckland and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Jets: J.Liam 30+9reb+3ast, M.Heron 15+6reb+4ast, S.Campbell 11+4reb+2ast, T.Baxter Jr. 8+3reb+2ast, K.Jonty 6+2reb+2ast, L.Simon 6+2reb+1ast
Saints: L.Mayen 26+10reb+9ast, T.Samuel 16+5reb, B.Ayre 15+2reb+3ast, I.Mauriohooho-Le'afa 13+8reb+7ast, T.Smith-Milner 12+2reb, M.Benlevi 8+8reb+2ast