NBS Nelson Giants (8-11, 9th) v Southland Sharks (11-8, 4th)
The Giants have one more home game to win to keep their slim finals hopes alive, while the streaking Sharks, who have already secured a home eliminator, aren’t done yet as they look to improve their seeding. Will the Giants keep their improbable finals run alive, or will the Sharks snuff out their postseason dreams and stake a claim to the third seed?
When: Thursday 7th July, Rapid League 6pm, Sal's NBL 7pm
Where: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 2 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube |
Last Time Out:
The Giants hosted the Tuatara and wasted no time capitalising when Rob Loe exited just a minute into the contest. Jeremy Combs (29pts, 5rbs, 4ast) and Callum McRae (11pts, 12rbs) dominated the paint, punishing the visitors inside as the Tuatara defence struggled to adjust. Despite strong efforts from Luther Muhammad (19pts, 9ast, 4rbs) and Tom Vodanovich (23pts, 9rbs), the Giants kept control throughout to secure a crucial 104-85 win, their 4th in a row, staying alive in the finals race.
The Southland Sharks welcomed Tauranga to Invercargill in a must-win clash, with the Sharks chasing a home eliminator and the Whai fighting to keep their season alive. Southland came out firing, with Sam Timmins (19 pts, 6 rbs, 8 ast) orchestrating the offence and Keylan Boone (29 pts, 6 rbs) pouring in points to build a nine-point lead. Although the Whai, led by a red-hot Mojave King (43 pts, 6 rbs, 3 ast), stormed back to take a halftime advantage, the Sharks regrouped and roared out of the break with an 11–2 run. Southland piled on 33 points in the third to wrestle back momentum and, despite King’s relentless scoring, kept the Whai at bay in the fourth quarter to secure a vital 98–88 victory.
What to Expect:
The Giants and Sharks have strikingly similar statistical profiles (less than a point separates them in scoring and points allowed) and both post near-identical offensive and defensive rebounding rates. The key differences: the Sharks are the most efficient three-point shooting team in the league, while the Giants excel at taking care of the ball, boasting a much better turnover rate.
Both teams lean on strong front lines that do the heavy lifting, freeing their point guards to add flair and creativity.
The Giants come in desperate: only a win keeps their finals hopes alive. Jeremy Combs and Callum McRae are their power inside—if either fails to fire, it will be tough to get the result. Andrew Jones and Liam Judd provide wing scoring; Judd thrives off cuts and catch-and-shoot chances, while Jones can create off the bounce. Everything runs through Alex Robinson, whose penetration, whether by pass or dribble, fuels the offence. Though they attempt the fewest threes in the league, the Giants need to stay close in made threes to stay competitive, and they have the weapons to catch fire on the right night. Off the bench, expect key minutes from Alex McNaught and Sam Dempster, with other options used in shorter bursts.
The Sharks also build around a stout front line. Sam Timmins and Josiah Allick control the glass and score effectively when left single-covered, while Keylan Boone has evolved into one of the league’s most dangerous weapons with his blend of perimeter shooting and rim attacks. Caleb Asberry has grown into a premier playmaker but is most dangerous driving to the hoop. Injuries to Johnny Helu and Alonzo Burton hurt their backcourt depth—particularly Burton’s spacing—but Brayden Inger remains the main bench contributor and can heat up from deep.
Matchup to Watch: Alex Robinson v Caleb Asberry- wo point guards who play with flair and are crucial to their teams’ offensive efficiency. Both can set the table for teammates or take over as scorers when needed. Their ability to disrupt passing lanes and generate steals could be decisive.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Giants | Sharks |
| Scoring Offense | 89.53 (6th) | 90.47 (5th) |
| Scoring Defense | 90.16 (6th) | 90.79 (7th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 52% (7th) | 55% (1st) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 46% (8th) | 44% (2nd) |
| Free Throw Rate | 32% (1st) | 27% (6th) |
| Free Throw % | 68% (10th) | 75% (3rd) |
| Three Point Rate | 34% (last) | 42% (5th) |
| Three Point % | 32% (6th) | 37% (1st) |
| Turnover Rate | 12% (5th) | 15% (10th) |
| Assist Rate | 61% (2nd) | 67% (1st) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 29% (3rd) | 29% (5th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 72% (6th) | 72% (7th) |
| Block Rate | 6% (9th) | 11% (3rd) |
| Steal Rate | 10% (8th) | 8% (9th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
