The Tauranga Whai have ensured the Auckland Tuatara have started the National Basketball League (NBL) season at 0-3.
The Whai came from six points down in the fourth quarter and held on for a 78-76 Sal's NBL victory over the Tuatara at Mount Maunganui's Mercury Baypark Stadium on Tuesday night to improve to 3-1.
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American point guard Chris Jones had his best game for the Whai, going for 26 points (8/14 FG, 9/13 FT), nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
Jones scored six points during a 10-2 run in the fourth period as Tauranga went from down 70-64 with 8:03 to play to up two with 2:57 left.
The teams traded baskets until former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt’s lay-up with 49 seconds remaining proved to be the winning basket.
Big man Talib Zanna, who played with Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams at the University of Pittsburgh, also put up 15 points (5/8 FG, 5/6 FT) and five rebounds and Australian forward Sean Bairstow 14 points (7/13 FG), eight boards and three assists.
Import guard Buay Tuach led the Tuatara with a game-high 31 points (10/19 FG, 3/6 3pt, 8/10 FT), nine boards, five assists, two steals and a block.
With the Tuatara still waiting on Tall Blacks Rob Loe and Dan Fotu, and unofficial Australian NBL Finals MVP Davo Hickey to arrive, Tom Vodanovich was the only other double-digit scorer, with 13 points (4/11 FG, 5/6 FT).
Up next, the Whai (3-1) head to Takanini to face the winless Indian Panthers (0-3) on Friday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Tuatara (0-3) are back at home on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm) to host the Nelson Giants (0-2).
In the Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Chris Wyllie and Dylan Wilkie each scored eight points to take the Tuatara to a 34-27 win. Xanda Marsters had 10 points and four boards for the Whai.
Tauranga Whai 78 (Chris Jones 26, Talib Zanna 15, Sean Bairstow 14, Carter Hopoi 11) Auckland Tuatara 76 (Buay Tuach 31, Tom Vodanovich 13). 1Q: 23-24, HT: 45-43, 3Q: 64-64