Turnovers hurt Tall Blacks

Pero Cameron’s Tall Blacks have suffered their first defeat in Fiba World Cup qualifying play as turnovers and rebounding issues came back to haunt them against Lebanon in Beirut.

In a Group E, second round matchup of two teams that have already clinched spots in next year’s World Cup, Lebanon produced a surging second half to overturn a six-point halftime deficit and unsettle Cameron’s largely inexperienced lineup, missing a raft of unavailable frontliners.

New Zealand and Lebanon are now tied at the top of Group E with 6-1 records.

The Tall Blacks, featuring Alex McNaught and Anzac Rissetto on debut, had looked on the way to another victory when they led 22-18 at the end of the first quarter and 37-31 at halftime.

But a 22-11 third period catapulted the hosts into a 53-48 lead at the final break, and the New Zealanders were unable to haul them inover a tight run home.

Cameron’s men were in many ways architects of their own demise, committing 25 turnovers that translated to a 24-10 advantage for the home side in points off giveaways, and also being pummelled 14-8 on the offensive boards.The New Zealanders complete the November window with a visit to Jordan on Monday (NZT).