Basketball: First-up win for Tall Blacks

The Tall Blacks have been boosted by a first-up win in their Olympic build-up in the US.

Tab Baldwin's side beat Puerto Rico 90-84 in Jacksonville, Florida after leading 51-44 at halftime.

Pero Cameron and Phill Jones top scored with 20 points each while Paul Henare added 11 and Aaron Olson shot 10.

The Tall Blacks were up by 15 points with ten minutes remaining before Pero Cameron fouled out and Puerto Rico managed to claw its way back late in the match.

NBA hopeful Sean Marks did not play today.

Marks is in contract negotiations with the San Antonio Spurs and does not want to get injured prior to the deal being done.

It is hoped that his agent will have a contract sealed in the next day or so, which will allow the 2-metre forward to don the black singlet again.


- Newstalk ZB