Green slams ‘‘ludicrous’’ betting allegation

Basketball New Zealand could go to the police if it unearths evidence a player manipulated a national league game for financial benefits.

The TAB is looking to see if there was any suspicious betting activity from a National Basketball League game between the Auckland-based SuperCity Rangers and Taranaki Mountain Airs in New Plymouth on July 20.

There was an interesting finish to the game after a basket from Taranaki cut the Rangers’ lead to 94-85 with two seconds left. Instead of running down the clock, the Jeff Green-coached Rangers called a timeout and then hit a three-pointer through American sharpshooter Clay Wilson.

That basket increased their lead to 12 points. A popular betting option available is a team winning by 11 or more points.

Green, a long-time NBL coach, described the allegations as ‘‘ludicrous’’ and firmly denied any wrongdoing from his side.

He said they drew up the play because it was Wilson’s last game and they wanted to increase his lead as the league’s most prolific three-point shooter. Wilson was eventually overtaken by Taranaki’s Alonzo Burton last weekend.

Taranaki also strongly defended the play. The Rangers celebrated at the end of the game because it meant they had avoided finishing last on the ladder, Green said.

‘‘It’s just nonsense. I’m not worried about it.

‘‘When you take all those things into account, it’s ludicrous to suggest anything else.’’

BBNZ chief executive and NBL chairman Iain Potter acknowledged it wasn’t what they wanted on the eve of the competition’s Final Four in Wellington this weekend.

The NBL asked the TAB to examine betting from the game and Potter expected to hear back from it later this week. He had spoken to Green, and a Taranaki representative, and was searching for any other helpful information.

If the TAB found any suspicious betting activity, Potter said an investigation would be launched to find out who placed the bet. Police could potentially be involved if that was the case.

Several times this year, the TAB has looked into betting on New Zealand NBL games, but not found anything malicious.

Potter said it was more a case of self-auditing and ensuring the integrity of the sport.

He had asked the TAB to take a look if there was a surprise result or there had been ‘‘throwaway gossip’’ in the basketball community.