The NBS Nelson Giants’ struggles against the Otago Nuggets continued on Sunday afternoon, with an 88–63 loss at the Trafalgar Centre leaving them 0–2 against the southerners in 2026.
In what was their poorest shooting performance of the season to date, the Giants were unable to find an answer to Otago’s suffocating defence, as concerns grow that this campaign may be tracking a similar path to last year.
Sitting at 2–5 and in need of a fast start, the Giants instead watched the visitors set the tone from the opening tip. Otago’s defensive pressure fuelled easy transition baskets, punishing the home side’s loose ball security.
Both teams found possession hard to come by early, but it was the Nuggets who capitalised, closing the opening quarter with a commanding 25–13 lead.
The second period offered little respite. It became a scrappy contest, with neither side able to establish any rhythm offensively. A far cry from the 50% three-point shooting display against the Saints less than a month earlier, the Giants managed just 32% from the floor and limped to the main break with only 29 points, trailing by 20.
The Giants lifted their defensive intensity after halftime, repeatedly forcing Otago deep into the 24-second shot clock. Alex McNaught set the tone with his hustle, creating no shortage of frustration for animated Nuggets coach Jeff Sparrow.
However, the offensive struggles refused to ease. Despite several chances to reduce the deficit, the margin hovered around 20 throughout the third quarter and grew to 25 heading into the final ten minutes.
It proved a bridge too far. Otago’s pressure never relented, and the Giants were unable to bring the gap below 20. James Matthews provided a brief spark from the bench late, something coach Mike Fitchett will have noted, but the final score underlined the Nuggets’ dominance across the floor.
Craig Moller led all scorers with 20 points for Otago, while Kruz Perrott-Hunt paced the Giants with 16. The Giants face another stern test next, travelling to Christchurch to take on the Rams, who currently sit third on the Sal’s NBL ladder.
