Franklin Bulls big man Sam Timmins has delivered an MVP performance to lead his side to a 85-79 victory over the Otago Nuggets.
The Tall Black centre was all energy and passion at Trusts Arena on Thursday night in the Sal’s NBL Showdown but found another level, at both ends of the court, when it counted with an inspired final quarter surge.
Timmins scored seven consecutive points for the Bulls, including an open three with two minutes to play and picked up a vital steal in the dying moments to cap a stellar performance.
Timmins was literally a standout for the Bulls, showing his value to the new franchise with an impressive double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds.
But those numbers don’t show the constant defensive pressure his menacing presence heaped on the Nuggets all night long as he seemingly contested every rebound.
The first half was raining three-pointers. Jordan Hunt nailed all three of his triples for the Nuggets as Everard Bartlett, Isaac Davidson, Joel Vaiangina and Nikau McCullough were all accurate from beyond the arc for the Bulls as both teams drained six of their first-half long-range attempts.
The Bulls took a five-point lead at 40-35 into the half-time break.
But the Nuggets fought back to win the third quarter and take a two-point lead (61-59) into the final 10 minutes.
Nuggets captain Jordan Ngatai made 10 of his 15 points in the final quarter as the last 10 minutes was keenly contested.
In just 24 hours, the Nuggets have gone from being unbeaten in the Sal’s NBL Showdown to having a pair of loses following Wednesday night’s loss to the Taranaki Mountain Airs.
The Bulls win moves them to a 3-2 record but the Nuggets drop to 2 and 2.
In the late game, Nelson Giants inflicted a second straight loss on the Canterbury Rams, winning 97-89.
Nelson led by as many as 24 points and although the Rams showed fighting spirit it was a game their rivals always had under control.
Mike Karena, playing against his former club, was in dominant form for the Giants amassing 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Also in good form were Tom Ingham (20 points) and Dane Brooks (16 points and seven rebounds), along with the experienced Josh Bloxham and Nic Trathen who notched double figures in scoring.
Taylor Britt came alive in the fourth quarter to lead the Rams effort with 20 points, with the hard-working Alex Talma finished with a dozen points and rebounds. Sam Smith also scored 12, with forward Tom Webley contributing 11 points.
The result tightens up the NBL ladder with the top six teams separated by just a single win.
Ingham and Karena had got the Giants off to a flyer, opening with a 20-5 lead. Trathen was also in good touch, the Giants piling on 39 first-quarter points to lead by 17 points after 10 minutes.
Ingham, the Nelson captain, and Bloxham kept the scoreboard moving for the impressive Giants who shot at 56 per cent (23/41) from the field in the first half.
Webley was the best of the Rams at the interval with 10 points, but his team faced a huge challenge in the second half overhauling a 55-36 deficit.
An unusually quiet Britt made a couple of scores for the Rams but when Trathen scored in transition, from a Karena assist, Nelson were still 20 points to the good.
Tom Cowie’s three late in the quarter gave the Rams a glimmer of hope, but they still had a lot to do, trailing 75-63 at the three-quarter mark.
Karena moved into double-double territory but the Rams were hanging tough, a Talma tip-in meant the Rams were only nine points down with seven minutes to play.
Karena was proving a tough proposition for the Rams but at the other end, Britt was finding his mojo – his six quick points meant the Giants lead was down to 8 points (88-80) midway through the last term.
Tysxun Aiolupotea and Theo Johnson made the next two scores and the Rams comeback effort was thwarted.
In other news, Tall Blacks star Mika Vukona will remain side-lined for the coming week at least in the Sal’s NBL after suffering from acute stomach pain that has led to tests for appendicitis
The Giants number one draft pick had been going through on-court conditioning since being released from quarantine following his recent flight from Australia, however, a night of acute pain led to a test for appendicitis.
