KEY POINTS:
Nelson coach Chris Tupu likes how his team have consistently built big leads in the National Basketball League this season.
But he is not so happy with how his players have given those leads back.
Nelson let their fourth consecutive double-digit, fourth-quarter lead at home vanish on Saturday night before recovering to edge Canterbury 84-83.
"It's encouraging that we've worked our way into a position to win the game, but then we let off the pedal, or whatever you want to call it, for some reason," said Tupu, who has Nelson at 6-3 for the season.
They are third behind Waikato and Wellington, who both have 14 points after eight rounds.
"I have been disappointed in a few things, some missed defensive assignments and some poor offensive execution."
Nelson led by 12 points with eight minutes remaining against Auckland in round five, eventually winning 93-91 in overtime.
They had a 10-point lead on North Harbour in round six but were scoreless for the last three minutes and lost 68-67.
And in round seven, they saw a 21-point lead with less than six minutes to play reduced to two points before handing Waikato their first loss, 88-81.
Nelson gave up a second-half lead in a loss to Wellington in round three.
"We've only been outplayed in one game, the first loss to Waikato up there, and the other games that we have lost, it's been our own undoing," Tupu said.
"To get to the finals in this league, we're going to have to improve. Down the stretch, we're just not going to keep getting chances like this."
Michael Fitchett scored a game-high 24 points in his head-to-head with Canterbury point guard Jeremy Kench last night.
Waikato ended a two-game losing streak with a 99-93 win in Te Awamutu over Otago.
Taranaki took an 83-78 win over Otago 24, while Hawkes Bay had a 91-78 win at home against North Harbour.
- NZPA
