Jadcup Auckland Tuatara (8-8, 6th) v Southland Sharks (9-8, 5th)
Auckland are clinging to a finals spot and need to rediscover their winning ways with just four games left in the regular season. The red-hot Sharks have won four straight, and a fifth would all but secure a return to the postseason. Can the Tuatara prove they’re capable of another run to the title game, or will Southland’s second-half surge continue?
When: Sunday 22nd June, Rapid League 2pm, Sal's NBL 3pm
Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 4 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube |
Last Time Out:
The Tuatara travelled to the capital and took the Saints to the brink in what could be the game of the season. Auckland showed their championship credentials across 45 minutes of high-pressure basketball, trading blows with the Saints in a contest full of lead changes and clutch plays. Luther Muhammad (26pts, 7rbs, 7ast) was superb at both ends, while Charles Pride (15pts), Tom Vodanovich (19pts), Dan Fotu (18pts), and Rob Loe (13pts, 15rbs) contributed strongly in a full-team effort. The Tuatara looked set to steal the win late in OT, but a costly turnover with just 0.4 seconds left gave the Saints one last chance, converted by Hyrum Harris on a perfectly executed sideline play to secure a 107–106 win.
The Sharks opened their round against a Hawks team chasing a season sweep. Southland started fast, feeding Sam Timmins (28pts, 11rbs, 5ast, 1blk) early to build a double-digit lead by quarter time. Dan Grida (24pts, 10rbs, 3ast) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (20pts, 9rbs) fought back, but the Sharks held them to 36% shooting while dominating the glass with a +12 margin. Josiah Allick (14pts, 13rbs) and Keylan Boone (17pts, 13rbs) added double-doubles as Southland pushed the lead past 20 before cruising to a 92–76 win.
What to Expect:
Auckland has seen the offense shift into the hands of Luther Muhammad over the past few weeks, moving into the half court and becoming more pick and roll focused. Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich and Dan Fotu are proving perfect partners for his skillset, with the skill to score off the pop to the perimeter and the strength to attack the paint on the roll. Buay Tuach uses his top level athleticism to punish the rim while Charles Pride has served as a solid defender and an opportunistic scorer when the ball comes his way. Dylan Wilkie and Zach Riley offer the depth as the squad has settled on an 8 man rotation that will need to be stout defensively against the Sharks. They'll need to defend beyond three, as the Sharks combine volume and efficiency from deep, while being strong on the glass against a team that relentlessly sweeps the boards.
The Sharks bomb away from deep with the best efficiency in the league, but it is their class on the interior that makes that possible. Josiah Allick and Sam Timmins provide the size and strength up front while Caleb Asberry and Keylan Boone look to manipulate defenses with the ball in hand. They can manipulate defenses with the bass, but as a team, they can be loose with possession and need to temper their aggressiveness with intelligent play to keep the upper hand. Brayden Inger has been a key add, as his size and skill gives the Sharks another option off the bench along with Tukaha Cooper giving just enough depth to to keep the rotations fresh.
Matchup to Watch: Rob Loe v Sam Timmins - The battle of kiwi bigs will have an impact on the result, will it be the smash mouth play of Timmins on the block or will the pick and pop game of Loe open up the paint for the wider squad.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Tuatara | Sharks |
| Scoring Offense | 87.88 (7th) | 90.29 (5th) |
| Scoring Defense | 90.19 (6th) | 91.59 (8th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 51% (7th) | 55% (2nd) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 45% (7th) | 44% (6th) |
| Free Throw Rate | 30% (5th) | 28% (7th) |
| Free Throw % | 69% (8th) | 74% (3rd) |
| Three Point Rate | 42% (4th) | 43% (1st) |
| Three Point % | 31% (7th) | 36% (1st) |
| Turnover Rate | 13% (8th) | 15% (10th) |
| Assist Rate | 56% (6th) | 66% (1st) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 24% (10th) | 28% (5th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 77% (2nd) | 71% (9th) |
| Block Rate | 6% (9th) | 10% (3rd) |
| Steal Rate | 8% (10th) | 8% (9th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
