Giants make big statement in NBL

Don’t forget the Nelson Giants in the National Basketball League title talk.

While the two-time defending champion Wellington Saints and Southland Sharks are most people’s pick to capture the 2018 silverware, the Giants should be firmly in the discussion.

Nelson showed their championship credentials with a 90-87 overtime upset over the Saints in Nelson on Saturday.

The victory improves them to 13-3 on the season and keeps them hot on the Saints’ tail for top spot with Nelson having two round games left.

After a forgettable 2017, where the perennial playoff contenders finished 4-14, Nelson have been vastly improved under first-year Australian coach Jamie Pearlman.

Australian guard Damon Heuir shone for the Giants with a game-high 30 points, including 6 of 13 from three point range. Compatriot Kyle Adnam added 17 points, while Tall Black Tohi Smith-milner was industrious with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Shea Ili had a chance to win the game for Wellington on the buzzer, but missed, sending the game to overtime. Nelson limited the Saints to just five points in the five-minute overtime period and scored eight themselves.

The Giants are chasing their first NBL title since 2007.

It was the third loss of round play for the table-topping Saints (14-3), who have stuttered through most of the season with unconvincing displays.

Wellington will be fully aware the regular season counts for little when the Final Four, which will be contested in the capital over August 4-5, rolls around.

With one round left, the top four is already locked in and will be contested between the Saints, Nelson, Southland, and the Bay Hawks.

In other matches over the weekend, Southland ruined Canterbury’s top four hopes with a 88-79 win in Invercargill on Friday night.

The Rams put up a valiant fight, but a couple of crucial baskets from American swingman Orlando Coleman sealed the result in the final minutes.

Coleman was a force for the Sharks with 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Jeff Green’s Supercity Rangers gained just their third victory of the season, overcoming Taranaki 97-85 in New Plymouth.

American guard Clay Wilson drained 10 threes from 18 attempts in his 34 points for the Rangers.

Marcel Jones also registered a doubledouble with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Taranaki, who dropped to 3-13, were led by American duo Roger Woods and Xavier Smith, who both contributed 19 points.

The Hawks went 2-0 for the round, banking comfortable victories. They thumped the Rangers 92-68 on Thursday, then walloped the Manawatu¯ Jets 103-70 yesterday, having led 54-24 at halftime.