NBL Round 23 (Regular Season): Tuatara beats Jets by three after a very close game

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in NBL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 23 in the NBL took place in Auckland. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed Jets (11-9) to seventh ranked Tuatara (10-10) 99-96 on Saturday evening. Tuatara made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Tuatara outrebounded Jets 46-29 including a 17-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tuatara looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 36 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import guard Charles Pride (193-1999, college: St.Bonaventure) contributed with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) answered with 37 points (!!!) (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!) for Jets. Jets' coach Tony Webster rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tuatara moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Bulls. Jets at the other side dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. Tuatara's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Panthers.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Jets (11-9) against sixth ranked Bulls (10-10) on Thursday night. Visiting Jets were crushed by Bulls in Pukekohe 106-69. It was a great evening for Australian forward David Okwera (208-2002) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Flynn Cameron helped adding 17 points and 9 rebounds. Guard Dontae Russo-Nance (190-2005) responded with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bulls maintains sixth place with 10-10 record, which they share with Tuatara. Jets at the other side dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. Bulls will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jets will play on the road against Whai (#8) in Tauranga and hope to get back on the winning track.
Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Tuatara (10-10) and Giants (8-11), which took place in Nelson. 7th ranked Tuatara was outleveled in a road game by tenth ranked Giants 104-85 on Wednesday. It was an exceptional evening for Jeremy Combs who led the winners and scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field). Thomas Vodanovich came up with 23 points and 9 rebounds for Tuatara in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Giants have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain tenth place with 8-11 record. Tuatara lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Bulls. Giants will meet at home higher ranked Sharks (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tuatara's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Panthers.

In the last two games of round 23 Whai beat Nuggets on the road 88-82. Hawks lost to Saints on its own court 81-99.



Giants - Tuatara 104-85

Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Tuatara (10-10) and Giants (8-11), which took place in Nelson. 7th ranked Tuatara was outleveled in a road game by tenth ranked Giants 104-85 on Wednesday. Giants shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. It was an exceptional evening for American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) who led the winners and scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field). His fellow American import guard Andrew Jones (193-1997, college: Texas) accounted for 20 points for the winning side. Five Giants players scored in double figures. The former international forward Thomas Vodanovich (201-1994, college: JMU) came up with 23 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) added 19 points and 9 assists respectively for Tuatara in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Giants have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain tenth place with 8-11 record. Tuatara lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Bulls. Giants will meet at home higher ranked Sharks (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tuatara's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Panthers.
Top scorers:
Tuatara: T.Vodanovich 23+9reb, L.Muhammad 19+4reb+9ast, Z.Riley 11+3reb+2ast, B.Tuach 8+3reb+2ast, N.Barrow 5+5reb, D.Fotu 5+5reb+4ast
Giants: J.Combs 29+5reb+4ast, A.Jones 20+3reb+2ast, A.Robinson 15+3reb+6ast, A.McNaught 14+3reb+1ast, C.McRae 11+12reb+1ast, S.Dempster 6+2reb+3ast

Bulls - Jets 106-69

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Jets (11-9) against sixth ranked Bulls (10-10) on Thursday night. Visiting Jets were crushed by Bulls in Pukekohe 106-69. Bulls outrebounded Jets 55-33 including a 42-26 advantage in defensive rebounds. Bulls players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Jets' players. Jets were plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for Australian forward David Okwera (208-2002) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. International guard Flynn Cameron (196-2000, college: UC Riverside) helped adding 17 points and 9 rebounds. Five Bulls players scored in double figures. Guard Dontae Russo-Nance (190-2005) responded with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard Quinton Rose (203-1998, college: Temple) scored 14 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Bulls maintains sixth place with 10-10 record, which they share with Tuatara. Jets at the other side dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. Bulls will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jets will play on the road against Whai (#8) in Tauranga and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Jets: D.Russo-Nance 19+6reb+4ast, M.Gibson 15+2reb, Q.Rose 14+6reb, L.Henry 5+7reb+1ast, T.Matambanadzo 4+1reb, K.Goins 4+4reb+1ast
Bulls: T.Gloger 20+8reb, F.Cameron 17+9reb+2ast, T.Hardy 15+4reb+2ast, E.Rusbatch 15+8reb+1ast, D.Okwera 12+12reb+8ast, J.Hunt 9+4reb+3ast

Nuggets - Whai 82-88

No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Tauranga (9-10) beat 11th ranked Nuggets (3-16) in Dunedin 88-82 on Friday. Whai looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for naturalized American swingman Mojave King (196-2002) who led the winners and scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. The former international power forward Anzac Rissetto (208-2001, college: Charlotte) accounted for 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Four Tauranga players scored in double figures. The former international Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college: HPU) came up with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard Donald Carey (196-1999, college: Maryland) added 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Nuggets in the defeat. Nuggets' coach Mike Kelly tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Whai moved-up to eighth place. Nuggets lost fourteenth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with 16 games lost. Whai will meet at home higher ranked Jets (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nuggets will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Nuggets: J.Janssen 25+6reb+4ast, D.Carey 23+8reb+4ast, J.Sebree 8+6reb, M.Bardsley 8+7reb, C.Martin 5+1reb+1ast, D.Knox 3+2reb
Whai: M.King 23+6reb+3ast, A.Rissetto 22+5reb, S.Bairstow 13+4reb+8ast, J.Bezzant 12+4reb+3ast, S.Murphy 9+4reb+3ast, K.Perrott-Hunt 7+6reb+4ast

Hawks - Saints 81-99

Very expected game when 9th ranked Hawks (9-12) lost to second ranked Saints (15-4) in Tamatea 81-99 on Saturday. Saints outrebounded Hawks 53-29 including a 24-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Saints looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for international guard Izayah Leafa (188-1996, college: Sacramento St.) who led the winners and scored 23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Australian swingman Nick Marshall (198-1999, college: Clarke) accounted for 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Five Saints players scored in double figures. American guard Brandon Alston (196-1995, college: Georgia Tech) came up with 20 points and 5 assists and Australian swingman Daniel Grida (195-1998) added 17 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Hawks in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Saints have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader. Hawks lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 12 games lost. Saints will meet at home league's second-placed Rams in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Hawks will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Hawks: B.Alston 20+4reb+5ast, C.Scott 19+4reb+4ast, D.Grida 17+9reb+2ast, C.Bush III 8+5reb+2ast, L.Yates 5+5reb+4ast, D.Matakatea 4+1reb
Saints: I.Le'afa 23+8reb+5ast, N.Marshall 23+7reb+4ast, J.Ngatai 15+5reb+2ast, H.Harris 13+12reb+6ast, N.Muszynski 10+6reb+2ast, S.Gold 9+6reb+1ast

Tuatara - Jets 99-96

The most exciting game of round 23 in the NBL took place in Auckland. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed Jets (11-9) to seventh ranked Tuatara (10-10) 99-96 on Saturday evening. Tuatara made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Tuatara outrebounded Jets 46-29 including a 17-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Tuatara looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Luther Muhammad (191-1999, college: Arizona St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 36 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import guard Charles Pride (193-1999, college: St.Bonaventure) contributed with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American forward Miles Gibson (198-1998, college: Binghamton) answered with 37 points (!!!) (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!) and guard Dontae Russo-Nance (190-2005) added 20 points, 7 assists and 5 steals in the effort for Jets. Jets' coach Tony Webster rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tuatara moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Bulls. Jets at the other side dropped to the fourth position with nine games lost. Tuatara's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Auckland to the arena Panthers.
Top scorers:
Jets: M.Gibson 37+4reb, D.Russo-Nance 20+7ast, Q.Rose 15+5reb+3ast, I.Miller-Jose 9+3reb, T.Matambanadzo 9+1reb, K.Goins 6+3reb+1ast
Tuatara: L.Muhammad 36+5reb+5ast, C.Pride 23+9reb+5ast, Z.Riley 10+3reb+1ast, D.Fotu 8+9reb+1ast, J.Leger 8+12reb+2ast, B.Tuach 7+4reb+3ast