Saints defeat Whai, to host NBL grand final
- NZ Sports Wire
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Wellington Saints are just one win from a record-extending 13th National Basketball League (NBL) title.
The regular season champion Saints rolled the upstart Tauranga Whai 93-68 in the second semifinal at Wellington's TSB Arena on Sunday afternoon, as the club booked its 21st final appearance.
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The Saints will face the Southland Sharks, who upset the defending champion Canterbury Rams on Saturday, in the title game in the Capital on Sunday (tip-off 2.40pm), a repeat of the 2015 and 2018 finals, both won by Southland.
Australian wing Nick Marshall led the Saints with 22 points (9/16 FG, 3/5 3pt), 11 rebounds and six assists, while Kiwi forward Hyrum Harris filled the stat-sheet with 20 points (7/8 FG), six boards, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Mid-season signing Jordan Ngatai added 16 points (6/11 FG, 4/6 3pt), American centre Nick Muszynski 15 points (7/12 FG) and eight rebounds, and Australian guard Shaun Bruce 12 points (4/6 FG, 2/3 3pt) and four boards off the bench.
The Whai had five players score in double-digits, led by Kruz Perrott-Hunt's 15 points (6/14 FG) and six assists.
Former NZ Breaker Mojave King put up 13 points (3/8 FG, 5/7 FT) and two steals, Jayden Bezzant 12 points (5/10 FG, 2/4 3pt) off the bench, big Anzac Rissetto 11 points (4/9 FG, 3/6 FT) and seven rebounds, and Junior Tall Black Carter Hopoi 10 points (4/9 FG), eight boards and two steals.
The Whai have lacked consistent scoring from their import spots all season and, with only one import on their roster, Sunday was no different, with Australian forward Sean Bairstow being held to five points.
Shooting stats told the tale of the tape, with the Saints converting 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent on threes, while the Whai could only manage 36 and 20 percent, respectively.
Wellington trailed for just 96 seconds in the game, all in the early part of the first quarter, before jumping out by 12 points. The Whai briefly got back into the contest, reducing the lead to one midway through the second period.
However, two baskets right before halftime and a 9-1 run to open the third stretched the lead out to 19 points and then then Saints ran away with the game with a 24-11 fourth quarter.
Wellington Saints 93 (Nick Marshall 22, Hyrum Harris 20, Jordan Ngatai 16, Nick Muszynski 15, Shaun Bruce 12) Tauranga Whai 68 (Kruz Perrott-Hunt 15, Mojave King 13, Jayden Bezzant 12, Anzac Rissetto 11, Carter Hopoi 10). 1Q: 26-20, HT: 49-38, 3Q: 69-57
