The Otago Nuggets suffered a 93-83 defeat at the hands of the Taranaki Airs in New Plymouth tonight.
Despite leading for most of the game, the Nuggets saw their lead slip away in the fourth quarter as the Airs mounted a comeback.
A heated scuffle between Jack Exeter and Josh Aitcheson resulted in both players being ejected from the game.
Craig Moller’s clutch shooting down the stretch helped the Airs secure the victory.
Jonathan Janssen had a standout performance for the Nuggets in the absence of import Don Carey jun, recording a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Seebree also contributed with 24 points.
Carlin Davison led the way for the Airs with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite a strong start from the Nuggets, the Airs managed to claw their way back into the game and eventually take the lead.
The Nuggets capitalized on the Airs’ turnovers to build an early advantage, but Davison’s scoring prowess kept the Airs in contention.
Missed free throws proved costly for the Airs, but they managed to stay within striking distance thanks to some key baskets from Deng Dut.
The game remained close throughout, with both teams trading baskets and momentum swings.
In the end, the Airs were able to pull away in the final minutes to secure the win.
The Nuggets will look to bounce back when they face off against the Manawatu Jets on Sunday.
