Finn Delany scored a season high 33 points for the Mike Pero Nelson Giants as they dispatched the 2 Cheap Cars Supercity Rangers 101-86.
Nelson have won three straight, moving to 6-2, meanwhile the Rangers have slumped to their eighth straight loss.
The Giants held only a five point lead at halftime, but would go on a tear in the third, scoring 36 points in the quarter to lead by 14 heading into the fourth. Nelson would push the lead up to as many as 21 points to seal a relatively comfortable win.
The Australian back court of Kyle Adnam, and Damon Heuir each scored 20 for the Giants, while for the Rangers, Devon Scott, scored a team high 22 points, and after missing the last two games through injury shooting guard Clay Wilson added 14.
In Wellington, the Cigna Saints have won their fifth in a row with a tough 80-77 win over the Taylor Hawks. It was a hard fought game from both sides, but arguably the difference was the play of Shea Ili, who scored a game high 27 points which included key baskets down the stretch.
LJ Peak scored 19, and Majok Majok added a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Saints who move to 5-1. The Hawks were led by Boomer centre, Angus Brandt, who grabbed a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Ethan Rusbatch scored 18, Jarrod Kenny had 14, and off the bench Everard Bartlett added 11.
The Hawks were much improved from the week before when they had a 30 point loss on the road to the Sharks, but after winning four of their first five they have dropped two straight. It will not get any easier for them next week when they play on the road to the 5-1 Rams before facing the Giants in Nelson the following night.
Week 5: Sunday, May 27
At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Cigna Saints 80 (Shea Ili 27, LJ Peak 19, Majok Majok 13)
Taylor Hawks 77 (Angus Brandt 19, Ethan Rusbatch 18, Jarrod Kenny 14)
Live Stats
At Te Awamutu Events Centre, Te Awamutu
2 Cheap Cars Supercity Rangers 86 (Devon Scott 22, Clay Wilson 14, Marcel Jones 14)
Mike Pero Nelson Giants 101 (Finn Delany 33, Kyle Adnam 20, Damon Heuir 20)
Live Stats
Photo: www.photosport.nz
