Saints’ loss adds intrigue

Just like that the longest winning streak in National Basketball League history is over.

The Southland Sharks produced the opening weekend’s major talking point, upsetting the two-time defending champion Wellington Saints 113-108 in the capital on Friday.

Southland’s victory ended Wellington’s 24-game and 705-day winning run, dating back to May 22, 2016, when they last tasted defeat, ironically against the Sharks.

Wellington won’t be panicking and will be vying for the title come the end of the season. The result does add much needed spice to the competition and make for an interesting subplot with these two sides set to be the frontrunners.

Australian point guard Jarrad Weeks, fresh off signing a two-year deal with the New Zealand Breakers, starred for Southland, scoring 26 points on just 10 shot attempts, while dishing out six assists.

Southland’s balanced attack was crucial with seven players scoring in double digits. Shea Ili, who Weeks will likely back up at the Breakers, showed why he’ll be in the MVP discussion with a game-high 32 points and 10 assists for the Saints.

The Sharks went 1-1 for the opening round after losing 92-84 to the Bay Hawks on Thursday.

It was the perfect start for new Hawks coach Zico Coronel, who was previously assistant coach at the Saints.

Jeff Green’s Super City Rangers dropped both games on their South Island road trip, losing 100-95 to Canterbury on Friday and being thumped 117-68 by Nelson, 24 hours later.

The Auckland side will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of US big man Devon Scott after being bashed in the rebounding battle in both games.

American forward Winston Shepard had a stellar debut in Canterbury’s fourth quarter comeback win, narrowly missing a triple double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Nelson were in charge against the Rangers, leading 58-39 at halftime, and produced a strong all-round team performance with seven players scoring in double digits.

The Giants couldn’t have asked for a better start under new Australian coach Jamie Pearlman, after a miserable 2017, where they missed the finals for the second straight season.

Taranaki spoiled Manawatu¯’s first game back in the NBL for two years with a comfortable 95-69 win in a game plagued by poor shooting. The Jets have been out of the league due to financial troubles.