The NBS Nelson Giants made it hard for themselves before beating the Manawatu Jets 92-79 in a must-win match at the Trafalgar Centre last night.
The home side stormed to a 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the margin to 46-35 at the break as the Jets, missing an injured Corey Webster, were off target.
The bottom-of-the table Giants extended the lead to 16 before the Jets offence finally took off late in the third quarter and they then drained three successive three pointers to surge seven points clear in the fourth quarter.
Just when it looked like the hosts would suffer their 10th loss of the season, they rallied with a barrage of three’s of their own and in the end pulled away to comfortably post the fourth win of the season.
After a strong first half Tohi Smith-Milner finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, justifying his inclusion in the Tall Blacks 2027 Fiba World Cup Squad.
The Giants lone American, guard Shane Gatling, had his best haul yet in five games with 30 points while Kruz Perrot-Hunt delivered when it really mattered with 19, highlighted by five three-pointers.
Captain Sam Dempster was huge defensively in the final quarter and ended with nine rebounds.
Knee issues continue to limit Liam Judd whose paltry two points came from free throws while Finnish player Eemi Luukkonen failed to make double figures for the sixth match in a row.
Jamal Poplar Junior led the way for the Jets with 26 points and Tai Webster contributed 25.
The victory against the ninth-placed side, lifted the Giants from last on the ladder past the Hawke’s Bay Hawkes and the Jets, keeping their play-off hopes alive.
They are back in action on Friday week against the Saints in Wellington and two days later return home to face the Sal’s NBL competition leader the Auckland Tuatara.
