Basketball: Titans left in slipstream

The Palmerston North Jets took a step closer to the NBL playoffs when they toppled Waikato's Titans 93-84 in Rotorua last night.

After losing the opening quarter 27-20, the Jets improved as the game went on, squeezing the margin to 42-46 at halftime and grabbing the lead 67-65 in the third before powering home.

They outscored the defending champions in all of the last three spells, 22-19, 25-19 and 26-19.

Jets coach Wayne Brown was delighted with the attitude his team showed to come back from the first quarter.

The Jets have one game to play, when they meet Auckland at home, while the Titans need to win their final two, away today to the North Harbour Kings and home to Otago's Nuggets next week, to keep a home semifinal.

In Christchurch, the Rams stayed on course for a home semifinal after they beat Otago 85-72.

The Rams gained a big break when leading Otago player American Ron Grady had to sit out much of the third quarter on four fouls.

- NZPA