At Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland: Otago Nuggets 81 (Keith Williams 34, Lade Boyd 19, Sam Timmins 10) Auckland Tuatara 73 (Siler Schneider 16, Chris Johnson 13, Rob Loe 13, Dontae Russo-Nance 11, Taki Fahrensohn 10) 1Q: 17-22, HT: 43-42, 3Q: 64-59.
Eight years after folding due to financial problems, the Otago Nuggets are kings of the National Basketball League.
Completed a fairytale storyline, Otago won their first NBL title and their second trophy in three years after overcoming the Auckland Tuatara 81-73 in Saturday’s grand final.
The Tuatara attempted to clinch a title in their first season in the league, but met their game in a classy Nuggets squad. They silenced the Tuatara home crowd at the Eventfinda Stadium on the north coast, which hoped to witness history.
Both teams were surprised to advance to the grand final with the Nuggets placed third and the Tuatara fifth – knocking over higher-ranked opponents to make the big dance.
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The Nuggets will absorb this triumph for some time.
They pulled out the Covid-19 inspired NBL Showdown in 2020but that success bore an asterisk because it wasn’t a real home and away format and the Wellington Saints, Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks weren’t involved.
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Otago Nuggets’ guard Tray Boyd goes up for a basket in the NBL Grand Finals against the Tuatara on Saturday night.
To think that after the 2014 season the Nuggets disappeared from the NBL due to financial problems and were out in the wilderness for five seasons.
The Nuggets returned for the Showdown in 2020 and are thriving under head coach Brent Matehaere, who has done an amazing job with the side.
American guard Keith Williams delivered a grand finale MVP show, exploding for a game-high 34 points, eight rebounds and a steal.
The 24-year-old, who is playing abroad for the first time after four years of college hoops in Cincinnati, looks like a man with a bright future.
It was on the edge of your seat in the closing minutes with the teams going blow after blow. In a tense sequence of plays, Rob Loe produced two blocks in a row for the Tuatara, with Todd Withers responding for the Nuggets.
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Otago Nuggets American guard Tray Boyd brings the ball to the field in the NBL Grand Final.
Williams wasn’t the only hero for the Nuggets. Standout American guard Tray Boyd added 19 points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Compatriot Withers was another defensive force with nine boards, three blocks and two steals with seven points to go.
Homegrown Otago Sam Timmins was also effective on both sides with 10 points on 5-8 shooting and nine rebounds.
US guard Siler Schneider scored the highest with 16 points, five assists and five steals for the Tuatara, while Loe contributed a 13 points-13 rebound double-double.
The key moment came with 54 seconds left as Boyd Schneider plucked off the ball and Williams scored on the other side to put Otago in fourth (77-73).
Otago pushed their lead to 10 points (62-52) with three minutes to go in the third quarter, but the brave Tuatara refused to go away.
Late baskets from Schneider and Dontae Russo-Nance pulled the Tuatara back in, reducing the Nuggets’ lead to five (64-59) in the final 10 minutes.
Back-to-back baskets from Williams, including a three, saw the Nuggets ride up eight (72-64) with confidence with just under seven to go.
The Tuatara opened a 39-30 lead late in the first half, but Boyd took over, hitting back-to-back threes and a two-point jumper to close the deficit.
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Auckland Tuatara center Chris Johnson tries to keep the ball in play in the NBL Grand Final against the Nuggets.
Otago’s powerful finish to the second quarter saw them go into the main break with a 43-42 lead with the grand final well balanced.
Both teams struggled deep into the first half with the Tuatara converting just three of 12 from beyond the arc (25%) and the Nuggets five of 16 (31%).
Otago was able to limit the impact of experienced Tuatara center Chris Johnson by making just two tries from the field and scoring two runs in the first half.
It wasn’t long before Johnson’s class shone through. In the third quarter, he became more involved offensively and impressed with his defense, shot blocking and rebounding.
There were some early nerves from the Tuatara, who made only three of their first nine attempts from the field and made six turnovers.
The Tuatara were cold to start the game, but Taki Fahrensohn and Schneider got them going offensively.
A 13-2 run by the Tuatara to close out the first quarter gave them a 10-minute lead after the opening of 22-17.
Even in the closing stages, the game could have gone either way, but Williams made the difference for the Nuggets and led his side to a historic title win.