NZNBL Wrap (May 14, 2024)

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

The New Zealand National Basketball League is stacked with NBL talent.

There was an offensive battle between South East Melbourne’s Ben Ayre and Illawarra’s Dan Grida when Wellington took on Nelson, but despite Ayre’s 33-point effort, Grida helped lead the Giants to victory in a clash that featured a raft of NBL talent.

Ayre made eight of 12 three-point attempts in his scoring run, while teammate Izayah Le’Afa added 28 points of his own in what was an immense performance from the Saints’ backcourt.

Grida came within touching distance of a double-double with 27 points and nine rebounds, while New Zealand’s Dan Fotu added 25 points in the 105-96 victory.

Lat Mayen and Tohi Smith-Milner also contributed to the Saints’ efforts. Mayen once again played the full 40 minutes of the game, and both players scored 14 points and added nine rebounds apiece.

A pair of Illawarra bigs battled in Canterbury’s clash with Taranaki, and it was Lachlan Olbrich’s Rams who stormed to victory against the Sam Froling-led Airs.

Olbrich has been a revelation in the NZNBL this season and took an immense challenge to his Hawks teammate. He finished the game with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while teammate and recent Tall Blacks selection Taylor Britt top scored with 24 points.

Breakers development player Max Darling added 18 points in the three-point victory.

Froling, on the other hand, played second fiddle to Mitch McCarron in the defeat. Froling had just 13 points in the clash, while McCarron ended with 17 points and seven assists.

The Perth Wildcats-heavy Otago Nuggets experienced a blip in this past week and suffered a pair of defeats, including a surprise, low-scoring loss to Whai.

The Nuggets lost 70-69 in what was just their opponents’ third win of the season.

Import DeMarcus Holland top scored for the victors with 20 points.

Ben Henshall struggled to find his shot with just 13 points on 4-14 shooting, but the emerging guard was a menace on the glass and finished the game with 13 rebounds. Tai Webster and Jack Andrew both finished with 14 points.

The Nuggets then fell to Keanu Rasmussen, Josh Roberts and the Hawkes Bay Hawkes in a 116-105 offensive masterclass.

Webster and Henshall both rebounded from the Whai defeat with 27 and 20 points respectively, but NBL24 36ers development player Keanu Rasmussen continued his strong form in the competition with 27 points of his own.

Taipans import Roberts took on Jack Andrew in the post and emerged victorious from their battle. He finished the game with 13 points and 20 rebounds.

Recent Tall Blacks selection Jordan Ngatai also had 20 points in the victory.

Lat Mayen (Wellington) – 14PTS, 9REB, 6AST vs Nelson
Keanu Rasmussen (Hawkes Bay) – 27PTS, 2REB, 2STL vs Otago

Tohi Smith-Milner (Wellington) – 14PTS, 9REB, 4AST vs Nelson

Josh Roberts (Hawkes Bay) – 13PTS, 20REB, 2AST vs Otago

Lachlan Olbrich (Canterbury) – 22PTS, 10REB, 2BLK vs Taranaki
Sam Froling (Taranaki) – 13PTS, 10REB, 1AST vs Canterbury | 21PTS, 9REB, 7AST vs Southland
Dan Grida (Nelson) – 27PTS, 9REB, 2BLK

Flynn Cameron (Taranaki) – 16PTS, 2REB, 1AST vs Canterbury | 17PTS, 5REB, 4STL vs Southland
Rob Loe (Auckland) – 22PTS, 7REB, 3AST vs Manawatu

Mitch McCarron (Taranaki) – 17PTS, 3REB, 7AST vs Canterbury
Max Darling (Canterbury) – 18PTS, 9REB, 1AST vs Taranaki
Carlin Davison (Taranaki) – 7PTS, 2REB, 2AST vs Canterbury | 8PTS, 6REB, 7AST vs Southland
Dom Kelman-Poto (Franklin) – 15PTS, 6REB, 1AST vs Southland
Alex McNaught (Nelson) – 6PTS, 3REB, 2AST vs Wellington
Dan Fotu (Nelson) – 25PTS, 4REB, 5AST vs Wellington
Cam Gliddon (Auckland) – 4PTS, 9REB, 3AST vs Manawatu

Ben Henshall (Otago) – 13PTS, 13REB, 5AST vs Whai | 20PTS, 5REB, 5AST vs Hawkes Bay
Dontae Russo-Nance (Otago) – 2REB, 1AST vs Whai | 6PTS, 1REB, 1STL vs Hawkes Bay
Jack Andrew (Otago) – 14PTS, 6REB, 2BLK vs Whai | 9PTS, 5REB, 1STL vs Hawkes Bay
Tai Webster (Otago) – 14PTS, 7REB, 2AST vs Whai | 27PTS, 4REB, 8AST vs Hawkes Bay