Jadcup Auckland Tuatara (5-5, 9th) v Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets (3-7, 10th)
Auckland take to their homecourt for the first game following their worst ever defeat in team history which has placed them into the bottom third of the ladder. To get back to their winning ways they'll need to overcome an Otago squad that has lost five straight and needs to right the ship with haste to keep the final six in sight. Will the Nuggets find their winning form again or will the Tuatara be the team to end their losing streak?
When: Wednesday 9th April, Rapid League 6pm, Sal's NBL 7pm
Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 2 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube
Box score here
Last Time Out:
Auckland welcomed Canterbury to the Sanctuary as they looked to exact some regular season revenge on the team that has taken the championship out of the hands the last tow years. But that was not to be as the Rams put on a clinic in Auckland as the dominated the Tuatara as they scored a league season high 131 points to claim a 53 point victory. On the positive side Tom Vodanovich(24pts) found some form but in all this was a dominant performance by the Rams who were led by C.J. Penha (35pts, 9rbs) and Sean MacDonald (31pts) in a dominant performance.
Otago looked to end a 4-game skid and with a winless Nelson side coming to town their hopes for a victory would have been raised, but the Giants found the lead early as Jeremy Combs (25pts, 11rbs, 5ast) looked in midseason form in just his second game with the team while Alex Robinson (14pts, 7ast) sliced his way through the defenses to create for himself and others. Jose Perez (32pts, 11rbs) did his best to bring the Nuggets back but in the end the Giants were too good and finally took home their first victory of the season (98-86).
What to Look For:
The Tuatara will still be without Rob Loe as they look to sweep the season series with the Nuggets, so will need to find alternative paths to rim protection and shoring up the glass so they will need to lift as a collective starting with Tom Vodanovich (13.2ppg, 4.3rpg) who hasn't produced to his usual level but is coming off his best scoring game of the year. He'll join Nick Barrow down low (3ppg, 3.3rpg) to provide the effort up front. Buay Tuach (18.3ppg, 4.9rpg) does his best work in transition and while Charles Pride (11.7ppg, 5.6rpg) is coming off of his second lowest scoring outing of the season but had hit 13 triples in his previous 3 games so will likely find that form again. Will 'Davo' Hickey (26.3ppg, 9.3rpg, 7.7apg, 1.5stls) will look to regain his top form to propel the Tuatara back into the winners circle.
Don Carey Jr (22ppg, 5.8rpg, 5.8apg) and Jose Perez (21.8ppg, 7.9rpg, 5.3apg) are the foundation for everything the Nuggets do and the pair has delivered more often than not this year. If Carey is hitting from deep, and he hit a season high 6 triples in their previous meeting, the geometry of the court shifts for the Nuggets and Perez will find more space on the interior. Perez is coming off a season high (scoring and rebounding) and will be more effective without the length of Loe to disrupt, but the Nuggets will be down size without the availability of Patrick Freeman and Mac Stodart, leaving the teams equal in size. Jono Janssen (15.6ppg, 4.7rpg) and Jaylen Sebree (14.2ppg, 5.5rpg) can tilt the game to Otago's favour if they find form but may require a bit more usage to get the best out of their skills.
Matchup to Watch: Davo Hickey v Don Carey Jr - These two guards have their teams fortunes in their hands and can singlehandedly keep their teams in the game. Hickey does it with violent speed and rim attacks in the half court and especially transition while Carey is dependent on the three point shot. If either gets loose their team will gain advantage.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Tuatara | Nuggets |
| Scoring Offense | 90.90 (7th) | 92.10ppg (6th) |
| Scoring Defense | 92.90ppg (8th) | 98.30ppg (11th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 53% (6th) | 51% (8th) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 47% (9th) | 49% (last) |
| Free Throw Rate | 34% (2nd) | 31% (4th) |
| Free Throw % | 70% (7th) | 66% (9th) |
| Three Point Rate | 44% (3rd) | 45% (2nd) |
| Three Point % | 34% (6th) | 36% (3rd) |
| Turnover Rate | 14% (8th) | 12% (5th) |
| Assist Rate | 56% (7th) | 59% (4th) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 22% (10th) | 27% (7th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 77% (3rd) | 74% (5th) |
| Block Rate | 5% (11th) | 5% (last) |
| Steal Rate | 8% (last) | 8% (11th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
