Basketball New Zealand

Hawks American import Kareem Johnson (Photosport)

Devon Dynamos Taranaki Ironman forward Link Abrams was not about to stand around and let a win slip away on Friday night.

In his 100th consecutive game since making his debut in 2003, Abrams had 31 points as the Dynamos defeated the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 83-78 at TSB Stadium in New Plymouth in round eight of the Dominion Finance NBL.

In Taradale, the Easy LPG Bay Hawks used a 26-11 fourth quarter defensive lock-down to turn a three-point game after three quarters into an 18-point blow-out win, 91-73, over the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat at Pettigrew.Green Arena.

With centre Tony Rampton out of the country and out of the line-up, Abrams stepped up, shooting a near-perfect 14-of-17 shooting from the field, and added nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals in his Century Game.

American guard Keith Salscheider followed up with 17 points, while point guard Ben Jeffrey had 13 points and forward Damon Rampton 12 points and nine rebounds as Taranaki improved to 5-5 to further cement themselves in the top-six.

The Dynamos were able to make a break mid-way through the fourth period in the tight contest, which featured 13 lead changes and six ties, with the biggest lead for either team being nine points to Taranaki.

Forward Lemar Gayle was held to 21 points for the now 2-9 Nuggets, a night after scoring 40 points against the Waikato Pistons, while fellow import Antoine Tisby had 19 points and 11 rebounds and Nat Connell 12 points.

Tisby, the League’s leading rebounder, had his double-double by halftime but was held to one rebound in the second half as the Dynamos evened the battle for the boards at 37-37 against the best rebounding team in the NBL despite Taranaki missing Rampton.

Taranaki won despite shooting 1-of-11 (9.9 percent) on three-point attempts but did force 19 Otago turnovers.

Balanced scoring, which saw five players score in double digits and guard Aidan Daly top-scored with 18 points, and a 40-24 rebounding count were key to the Hawks victory, which lifted them to 4-3.

Before the fourth quarter, the Hawks biggest lead was eight points but after the visiting Heat drew level at 68-68 with 7:59 remaining, the Bay out-scored Harbour 23-5.

American forward Kareem Johnson had 17 points and nine rebounds, Paora Winitana added 17 points and seven assists, while Paul Henare had 11 points and six assists.

Australian Oscar Forman led the Heat with 20 points, while Jarrod Kenny had 13 points and seven assists, Hayden Allen six assists and Mika Vukona topped the rebounding stats with nine. Harbour made only 25 field goals.

Dominion Finance NBL Round Eight

At TSB Stadium, New Plymouth
Devon Dynamos Taranaki 83 (Link Abrams 31, Keith Salscheider 17, Ben Jeffrey 13, Damon Rampton 12) Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 78 (Lemar Gayle 21, Antoine Tisby 19, Nat Connell 12). HT: 38-35
Dynamos vs Nuggets Box Score (21KB html)

At Pettigrew.Green Arena, Taradale
Easy LPG Bay Hawks 91 (Aidan Daly 18, Kareem Johnson 17, Paora Winitana 17, Kevin Smith 14, Paul Henare 11) Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 73 (Oscar Forman 20, Jarrod Kenny 13, Daryl Cartwright 12, Tim Behrendorff 11). HT: 47-43
Hawks vs Heat Box Score (21KB html)

Round Eight games, scores and standings