KEY POINTS:
Free-scoring guards Josh Pace and Michael Fitchett lifted the Nelson Giants within sight of a National Basketball League title when they defeated the Waikato Pistons 109-103 in overtime.
American Pace commanded last night's semifinal at the Te Awamutu Events Centre with his array of offensive moves, recording 37 points and underlining why he is favoured to be named the league's most valuable player.
Shooting guard Fitchett came into his own in overtime after the scores were locked 88-88 at fulltime. The Tall Black triallist opened the extra five-minute period with three consecutive three-pointers as Nelson pulled 11 points clear.
The Pistons staged a dramatic comeback with high-scoring American guard Jason Crowe unleashing a monster dunk off a Nelson turnover to lift the spirits of the home team.
It took another Fitchett shot from outside the arc with 20 seconds remaining to end with 34 points and foil a Pistons fightback that had reduced the margin to four.
Earlier in regulation time, the Pistons had produced an even bigger comeback after trailing by 16 points throughout much of the third quarter.
Slick work at both ends of the court by Pistons guard Crowe and some deadly three-point shooting from Ben Hill turned a 54-70 deficit near the three-quarter mark into a lead with less than two minutes remaining.
But Pace made two clutch free-throws to level the scores and the Pistons failed to convert from their final possession, sending the game into overtime.
The Giants advance to the best-of-three finals next Thursday against either the Harbour Heat or Hawke's Bay Hawks, who meet in the other semifinal on Auckland's North Shore tonight.
Traditional powerhouses Nelson haven't won the NBL title since 1998, having been perennial semifinalists and beaten finalists.
It was an important result for Nelson centre Ed Book, who has vowed to end his long professional career when the Giants' season ends.
Waikato were the league's form team coming into the playoffs, having won their last five games. But they struggled to handle the Giants' switching defence.
Nelson opened up a 22-20 lead after the first quarter and turned that into 47-40 by halftime.
