Heat Burn Saints
Tagged in: NBL
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They may have started from the bench but the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat’s New Zealand Breakers triumvirate of Mika Vukona, Oscar Forman and Tim Behrendorff had major influences in an opening night win.
Forman hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 1min 20sec, then dropped two free throws with 8.9secs remaining as the Heat defeated the Century City Wellington Saints 80-76 in the opening game of the 2008 Dominion Finance NBL at the North Shore Events Centre on Thursday night.
Forman ended with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, Behrendorff made seven-of-eight baskets for 14 points and Vukona was a rebounding presence on the inside, with nine boards and drawing a loose ball foul on Saints import Marquis Webb with 23.6sec on the clock that allowed the Heat to maintain possession with a two-point lead.
The contributions of Forman, Behrendorff and Vukona, along with a six-point cameo from Blake Truslove, allowed the Heat bench to out-score the Saints reserves 48-18.
Daryl Cartwright carried the Heat in the first half, scoring 16 of his 19 points in periods one and two.
Wellington’s American import Nick Horvath was their main offensive threat for the first three quarters, finishing with a game-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds in the first double-double of the season, and two blocks.
Harbour lead early 10-2, thanks to six points from NBL rookie BJ Anthony, son of NBL legend Benny Anthony, but Wellington pulled their way back into the game. The Heat stretched the lead to as many as 12 points in the third period, before the visiting Saints rallied down the stretch, tying the game at 75-75 with 1min 35sec to play on the back of two Luke Martin threes.
Webb ended with 11 points and six rebounds, forward Arthur Trousdell had 15 points and Martin, who arrived in Wellington on Wednesday, had nine points and five assists.
To go with his nine boards, Vukona dropped six points and four assists, while Anthony celebrated his first NBL game with 12 points and five rebounds.
The Saints back up on Saturday night, completing their City of Sails double-header against the Youthtown Auckland Stars at ASB Stadium, tip-off 7.30pm, while the Heat next play March 8 in the first Battle of the Bridge game against the Stars.
Appliance Shed Harbour Heat 80 (Oscar Forman 22, Daryl Cartwright 19, Tim Behrendorff 14, BJ Anthony 12) Century City Wellington Saints 76 (Nick Horvath 23, Arthur Trousdell 15, Marquis Webb 11)
QT: 24-18, HT: 40-31, 3Q: 60-52
