Auckland Tuatara Edge Out NBS Nelson Giants 88-82 in Trafalgar Centre Thriller
The Auckland Tuatara pulled away in a fierce final quarter to defeat the NBS Nelson Giants 88-82 on June 28, 2026 at the Trafalgar Centre. In a high-stakes, back-and-forth Sal's NBL encounter, the Giants showed remarkable energy and physical resilience, even holding a slim lead at various points in the first half. However, Auckland's clinical execution down the stretch proved to be the deciding factor, forcing the home team to look toward resetting for their next home clash.
Nelson's offence was spearheaded by an explosive performance from Shane Gatling, who dropped a game-high 30 points alongside 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Liam Judd provided a massive spark inside, chipping in 19 points, while Eemi Luukkonen battled hard in the paint to secure 14 points and 7 rebounds. Auckland relied heavily on veteran big man Rob Loe, who dominated the glass with a monstrous double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds. The visitors sealed the victory late in the fourth period by capitalising on critical possessions, narrowly spoiling an impressive home-court effort by the Giants.
Game Statistics
|
Team |
Final Score |
Top Scorer |
Rebounds |
Assists |
|
Auckland Tuatara |
88 |
Rob Loe (26) |
Rob Loe (14) |
Rob Loe (6) |
|
NBS Nelson Giants |
82 |
Shane Gatling (30) |
Eemi Luukkonen (7) |
Shane Gatling (5) |
Pigeon Post News, Richmond.
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