Basketball: Nelson winning streak runs into Saints brick wall

The Wellington Saints buried the previously unbeaten Nelson Giants under a defensive screen with an emphatic 86-55 win in the Capital last night.

Nelson entered the game on a three game winning streak, but looked anything but the joint league leaders as they ran into a defensive wall.

Averaging 97 points before last night Nelson barely got half that.

The visitors were forced into 24 turnovers and could manage just 36 per cent shooting on the night and just three baskets in a decisive third quarter won 26-7 by Wellington.

Nelson and Tall Blacks guard Phill Jones, backing up from a 33 point effort against Canterbury, was restricted to just five first half points and finished with a meagre nine, while import Darnell McCulloch had just seven.

Across the court Saints had the better of the one-on-one match ups. George Le'afa played Tu Umaga-Marshall out of the game grabbing four of Wellington's 15 steals.

Terrence Lewis and Troy McLean kept Jones in check, while Brendon Polyblank, David Hopoi, and Derek Moore proved an impenetrable force under the basket.

The defending champion Saints backed up their defensive efforts with some classy offence, Australian import Moore leading all scorers with 21 points while Troy McLean added 14 off the bench, Lewis 14, and Polyblank 12 and nine rebounds.

But it was former Australian Boomer Moore that shone brightest as the Saints went to two wins from two. The big centre scorched in 13 points in the third quarter ranging from a classic hook to a three-pointer as Saints went on a 17-0 run.

When guard Randall Tolo's hanging buzzer beater swished in the game was effectively over.

Saints built a 38-21 lead midway through the second quarter after a stifling first quarter defensive display led by forwards Hopoi and Polyblank.

With McLean nailing 12 first half points off the bench including two of Saints five first half three pointers the home team were threatening to run up a massive lead.

One bright spot for Nelson was forward Jeremiah Trueman who finished with 12 points.

The Saints next game is against the Otago Nuggets at home on Saturday.

Saints 86 (Troy McLean 14, Brendon Polyblank 13, Derek Moore 21, Terrence Lewis 13, George Le'afa 9)

Giants 55 (Darnell McCulloch 7, Phill Jones 9, Jeremiah Trueman 12, Lance Baker 12)

Halftime: 41-34

- NZPA