After winning their penultimate Sal’s NBL basketball match on Wednesday, the Nelson Giants now have a very anxious wait to see if they can still claim the sixth and final play-off spot.
The Giants backed up against the Taranaki Airs just two days after losing in double overtime to the Manawatu Jets and five days since blowing the lead against the Southland Sharks on a grueling road trip.
In a repeat of their clash in Nelson earlier this season, the Giants dominated from the outset in the must-win game against the Airs cruising home 98-73.
The flu forced the late withdrawal of point guard Alex McNaught but Tohi Smith-Milner and Kruz Perrott-Hunt starred, both scoring 23 points.
The solution is simple now, if the Jets beat the Franklin Bulls on Saturday week in Palmerston North they will finish ahead of the Giants on points.
The Tauranga Whai and even the Bulls are still in the play-off hunt as well.
The Giants have won six of their 19 games and will finish the regular season at home on Saturday week against the Whai who beat them 69-58 in Tauranga last month.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm.
