Basketball: Top four unlikely to be headed

With two rounds left in the NBL, the playoff picture is becoming clear, with the leading sides, Auckland, Nelson, Hawkes Bay and Waikato, now unlikely to be overtaken.

Positions, and therefore home advantage for semifinals, could change, though, and three crucial games loom - leaders Auckland against fifth-placed North Harbour next Friday night, Auckland against fourth-placed Waikato and the second-placed Nelson Giants away to third-placed Hawkes Bay Hawks in the last round.

The Otago Nuggets are destined for last place, just one win so far, and Manawatu will not be challenged for second-last. The Heat retain a mathematical chance after basing their season around tough defence but failing to score sufficient points to get wins on their road double at the weekend.

The rest pay the price for inconsistency, the Rams starting well and fading, Taranaki failing to play to expectation week-in, week-out, and both needing to win all remaining games to squeak into the finals. Wellington are gone despite beating Harbour 85-80 yesterday, no doubt rueing the late arrival and shuffling of their imports. So the right four teams, those that have built some consistency, look like making it through to the playoffs.

The Saints and Heat played out a tough contest yesterday that was close all the way, the Heat suffering in a poor third quarter but grabbing the lead in the fourth before they were run down late.

Import Mike King scored 20 and took eight rebounds and Matt Lottich shot 15, but although it was better than their 81-70 loss to the Giants in Nelson the night before, it wasn't enough. On Saturday night, the North Shore side scored just seven points in the second quarter and trailed 26-45 at halftime, a gap they could not narrow. New Tall Black prospect Brent Charleton shot 23, and Lottich 19, but they were out-gunned by the Giants' two imports Jacob Holmes, 27 and 10 rebounds and Tyrone Barley, 19, with American/Kiwi Ed Book contributing 17.

In both games the Heat missed Hayden Allen and it is uncertain whether he will be fit for Friday's "Battle of the Bridge" at the North Shore Events Centre.

On Friday night the Hawks beat Waikato despite losing big forward A. J. Majstrovich, who couldn't play after dental surgery. Veteran Willie Burton, called in as a replacement for the injured Chris Pollard, scored 17, including four of five three-shots and took eight rebounds. Import Derek Moore and local Aidan Daly backed him up as the home team pressed on from 75-all at the end of regular time to a 90-83 win in overtime.

Titans import Greg Lewis was their best again, with 35 points, 13 rebounds and four steals. Pero Cameron shot 21 but the contribution from others was lacking.