A brave third-quarter comeback wasn't enough for the Nelson Giants to get its first win of the NBL season at the Trafalgar Centre tonight, losing by just a single point to the visiting Auckland-based Franklin Bulls.
The impressive Luther Muhammad hit a clutch shot with time running out to give the Bulls a one-point lead, putting pressure on the Giants to make a play to win the game with just 4 seconds left on the game clock.
But a Dan Fotu shot rebounded off the glass and away from the hoop, leaving the hosts with a heartbreaking loss.
The Giants went into its first home-game of the season on the back of a first-round loss to Canterbury and without club captain Sam Dempster, who missed a second consecutive game due to injury.
Franklin had the better of the first half of the game, out-muscling the hosts with the impressive Muhammad leading the way for the visitors, picking up 18 points in the first half alone before finishing the game with 34 points.
But a Dan Grida-inspired comeback late in the third quarter saw the Giants first draw level with an emphatic slam dunk by Dan Fotu, before a three pointer from Nick Davidson gave the Giants the lead for the first since the game's opening moments.
The hosts look to have done enough as the final quarter played out, but Muhammad stepped up to crush the Giants hopes.
The Giants will next play on Saturday April 6 when it will host the Wellington Saints at the Trafalgar Centre.
Scores: 1st quarter 25-21 Bulls; half time 51-46 Bulls; 3rd quarter 70-67 Giants; final 86-85 Bulls.
