Basketball New Zealand

Giants guard Phill Jones had a game-high 22 points (Photosport)

Say goodbye to the Waikato Pistons pursuit for perfection.

Tall Black Phill Jones made a crucial three-pointer with a minute remaining and scored a game-high 22 points as the CPS Nelson Giants ended the Pistons six-game undefeated start to the Dominion Finance NBL in round seven with an 88-81 win at the Trafalgar Centre on Saturday night.

But the win wasn’t without some late-fourth quarter tension.

The Giants led by 21 points with 5:56 to play but in a repeat of their previous two home games faded down the stretch and almost handed over another win.

Behind three consecutive clutch threes from Ben Hill, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, and back-to-back triples from American guard pairing Brian Wethers and Jason Crowe, Waikato were able to close within two points at 83-81 with 1:10 remaining, completing a stunning 19-0 run.

Nelson went scoreless for almost five minutes before Jones hit a three on the next possession, then hit two free-throws with 31secs on the clock to hold onto the W.

The Giants gave up a 12-point lead with eight minutes remaining before defeating the Youthtown Auckland Stars in overtime in round five and a 10-point lead with three minutes to go in a one-point loss to the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat in round six.

Jones shot 7-of-16 from the field and had six rebounds and five assists, American centre Michael Harrison aided with 21 points, six rebounds and four blocks, and Jamil Terrell posting a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

Nelson shot 57.1 percent both from the field and on threes in the first half, stunning the unbeaten Pistons, taking a nine-point lead at quarter time, which stretched to 22 points by halftime and 19 points after three periods.

Wethers led Waikato with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Crowe dropped 13 points, six rebounds and six assists. Ben Hill had 13 points and eight rebounds.

In Palmerston North, American imports Lemar Gayle and Antoine Tisby combined for 57 of the team’s 100 points, while Brent Charleton scored a season-high 19 points as the Cartridge World Otago Nuggets routed the Property Brokers Manawatu Jets.

After winning just two games the entire 2007 season, the Nuggets have now won twice in three games, both coming against the Jets, after ending a six-game losing streak to start 2008.

Otago, who lost by 13 points to the Easy LPG Bay Hawks on Friday night in Taradale, jumped all over the Jets early, leading by as many as 11 points in the first period, up 32-23 at the first intermission.

From the 7:27 mark of the second quarter, the Nuggets led by double-figures for the rest of the game and 13 points was the closest the margin got in the second half.

Otago out-shot, converting 54.5 percent from the field and 7-of-15 on three-point attempts, and out-rebounded, 56-31, the home squad, who hit 1-of-12 threes in the first half.

Gayle had 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting and five rebounds, while Tisby, acquired to replace shooting forward Jay Anderson earlier in the week, posted his second double-double in two games, with 12 rebounds and four assists to go with his 26 points.

Brent Charleton added 19 points and Nat Connell fell one rebound short of his own double-double with 12 points and nine boards.

Point guard Kantrail Horton led the Jets with 28 points but his import running mate Keith Davis was held in check to 13 points. Miles Pearce had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Kaine Hokianga added 10 points.

Dominion Finance NBL Round Seven

At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
CPS Nelson Giants 88 (Phill Jones 22, Michael Harrison 21, Michael Fitchett 14, Chris Daniel 13, Jamil Terrell 13) Waikato Pistons 81 (Brian Wethers 21, Puke Lenden 14, Jason Crowe 13, Ben Hill 13, Mike Homik 13). HT: 53-31
Giants vs Pistons Box Score (22KB html)

At Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North
Cartridge World Otago Nuggets 100 (Lemar Gayle 31, Antoine Tisby 26, Brent Charleton 19, Nat Connell 12) Property Brokers Manawatu Jets 81 (Kantrail Horton 28, Keith Davis 15, Miles Pearce 13, Kaine Hokianga 10). HT: 49-34
Jets vs Nuggets Box Score (21KB html)

Round Seven games, scores and standings