Property Brokers Manawatū Jets (9-10, 7th) v Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets (2-14, 11th)
The Jets come into this game needing a win to keep their postseason hopes alive, but a determined Nuggets side with nothing to lose is coming to town, and they’ve proved a difficult out despite their results. Will the shorthanded Jets get the victory they need to chase 6th spot, or will the Nuggets finally play the role of spoiler and break through for a win?
When: Sunday 6th July, Rapid League 2pm, Sal's NBL 3pm
Where: Fly Palmy Arena, Palemerston North
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 4 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube |
Last Time Out:
Earlier this week, the Jets looked to take one step closer to the postseason against the visiting Whai, who themselves needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and both teams came out swinging. Quinton Rose started aggressively with 11 first-quarter points on his way to a 40-point night! His scoring was vital as both Dontae Russo-Nance and Kenny Goins were lost early to injury.
The Whai responded as a collective, with all five starters hitting double figures, led by Mojave King (23pts, 7rbs, 5ast, 2blks), to hold a narrow 2-point lead heading into the final quarter. In the fourth, Sean Murphy (21pts, 12rbs, 2ast, 1stl, 1blk) and the Whai surged ahead as the Jets ran out of fuel, eventually falling 103-93.
The Nuggets then took the court against the Airs in New Plymouth, coming out aggressively by forcing turnovers that led to transition buckets, as the last import standing, Jaylen Sebree (24pts, 7rbs, 3ast, 1stl, 2blks), led from the front. Christian Martin (12pts, 4rbs) added a spark off the bench, and the Nuggets threatened to end their losing streak, heading into the fourth quarter up by two, despite the efforts of Carlin Davison (25pts, 11rbs, 4ast).
But the final period belonged to the Airs, as Craig Moller (24pts, 8rbs, 3ast) found his range from deep to help secure a 93-83 win, sending the Nuggets to their 15th straight defeat.
What to Expect:
The Jets come into this one short-handed, with Kenny Goins and Corey Webster ruled out and star guard Dontae Russo-Nance listed as questionable. That means veteran Leon Henry will step into the starting lineup, bringing leadership, rebounding, and defensive presence. Offensively, expect the Jets to lean heavily on Quinton Rose, fresh off a 40-point explosion, to carry the scoring load.
Without Goins’ shooting and Webster’s playmaking, the Jets may look to Tyson Thata-Paese to step up, as Miles Gibson and Quinton Rose focus on getting quality looks in the half court rather and pushing the pace. Defensively, they’ll need big minutes and hustle from Isaac Miller-Jose to stay competitive on the glass and limit second-chance opportunities. If Russo-Nance can suit up and contribute, it’ll give the Jets a spark, but even without him, expect them to play with grit in front of their home crowd as they try to secure a finals berth.
The Nuggets remain without Don Carey Jr. and come in desperate to snap a 15-game losing streak in their last game of the year. Despite their record, they’ve shown flashes of competitiveness by playing hard on defense and trying to turn stops into transition buckets. Jaylen Sebree will again be the focal point on offense, looking to score from multiple levels and create for teammates, while Christian Martin will again took to provide a spark off the bench.
Expect the Nuggets to come out aggressive behind Jono Janssen in the post and Matthew Bardsley everywhere else, trying to force turnovers and run in transition or look for the grind against similarly sized Jets front line. But the real question will be whether they can finish strong in the fourth quarter, something that has slipped away from them in recent weeks. If they can stay disciplined and get a wide swathe of contributors, the Nuggets could finally end their slide and spoil the Jets’ night.
Matchup to Watch:
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Jets | Nuggets |
| Scoring Offense | 92.16 (4th) | 85.28 (10th) |
| Scoring Defense | 96.11 (10th) | 97.28 (11th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 51% (9th) | 49% (10th) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 47% (10th) | 49% (11th) |
| Free Throw Rate | 27% (8th) | 29% (4th) |
| Free Throw % | 70% (9th) | 66% (11th) |
| Three Point Rate | 36% (10th) | 45% (1st) |
| Three Point % | 32% (8th) | 32% (4th) |
| Turnover Rate | 11% (2nd) | 13% (6th) |
| Assist Rate | 52% (10th) | 54% (9th) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 24% (10th) | 25% (8th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 69% (11th) | 71% (8th) |
| Block Rate | 9% (6th) | 5% (last) |
| Steal Rate | 12% (1st) | 10% (5th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
