NZNBL Wrap (May 7, 2024)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

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

A pair of Perth Wildcats pulled together exceptional performances for the Otago Nuggets this week, however Tai Webster’s impressive 40-point performance was not enough to lead the Nuggets to victory against Canterbury in their first game of the past seven days.

Webster scored 40 of his team’s 85 points in the defeat in a game in which only import Kimani Lawrence also scored in double figures for Otago.

Lachlan Olbrich was a force on the glass in the victory for the Rams. Aside from adding 13 points in the 11-point win, the young center also pulled in 16 rebounds and added three steals and three blocks in the victory.

While Webster couldn’t repeat his 40-point performance in Otago’s later victory over Nelson, Ben Henshall stepped up for the Nuggets with 31 points and 10 rebounds in the bounce-back win.

Dan Grida’s performances in Nelson’s double-header has seen him rise to third in the competition’s official MVP voting. He added 14 points in a victory over Southland prior to his 31 points against the Wildcats-laden Nuggets.

Rob Loe’s 31-point, 18 rebound double-double in Auckland’s win over Hawkes Bay pushed him ahead of Grida and level with Franklin’s Luther Muhammad at the top of the MVP rankings.

Lat Mayen continued his strong run of form with the Wellington Saints, and just one week after registering an iron man 40-minute performance, he ended the game against Manawatu just one assist shy of a triple double.

Mayen starred with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists against the ailing Jets, while South East Melbourne’s Ben Ayre chipped in with 15 points in the victory.

Keanu Rasmussen (Hawkes Bay) – 27PTS, 5REB, 4STL vs Whai | 9PTS, 3AST vs Auckland
Lat Mayen (Wellington) – 26PTS, 10REB, 9AST vs Manawatu

Tohi Smith-Milner (Wellington) – 12PTS, 2REB vs Manawatu

Josh Roberts (Hawkes Bay) – 23PTS, 19REB, 1STL | 13PTS, 10REB, 1BLK vs Auckland

Lachie Olbrich (Canterbury) – 13PTS, 16REB, 3BLK vs Otago
Dan Grida (Nelson) – 14PTS, 3REB, 2AST vs Southland | 31PTS, 6REB, 2AST vs Otago
Sam Froling (Taranaki) – 28PTS, 9REB, 4AST vs Franklin

Flynn Cameron (Taranaki) – 20PTS, 4REB, 2AST vs Franklin
Rob Loe (Auckland) – 31PTS, 18REB, 5AST vs Hawkes Bay

Alex McNaught (Nelson) – 14PTS, 1REB, 5AST vs Southland | 11PTS, 3REB, 5AST vs Otago
Dan Fotu (Nelson) – 11PTS, 2AST, 2STL vs Southland | 22PTS, 8REB, 4STL vs Otago
Mitch McCarron (Taranaki) – 6PTS, 6REB, 10AST vs Franklin
Dom Kelman-Poto (Franklin) – 8PTS, 3REB, 1AST vs Taranaki
Cam Gliddon (Auckland) – 22PTS, 4REB, 4STL vs Hawkes Bay

Ben Henshall (Otago) – 6PTS, 7REB, 7AST vs Canterbury | 31PTS, 10REB, 4AST vs Nelson
Jack Andrew (Otago) – 7PTS, 3REB, 2BLK vs Canterbury | 9PTS, 10REB, 3BLK vs Nelson
Tai Webster (Otago) – 40PTS, 3AST, 2STL vs Canterbury | 15PTS, 4AST, 1STL vs Nelson