The New Zealand Basketball league is back and this round of matches is going to take place will be between Otago Nuggets and Nelson Giants.
The league has undergone a major overhaul in the post COVID world and now the players who went through a draft have been distributed more evenly so it is difficult to predict a winner as both the teams have worked hard on their drafts and managed to pick up some top players
This season of the league is going to be like none other as some players are missing and unlike the last few years there isn’t a clear top team or top teams who would otherwise be favorites to finish in the top 3.
The Otago Nuggets edged out the Manwatu Jets in their first game when they defeated them 104-100 on the other hand the Nelson Giants lost their first game against the Mountainairs by 96-112.
Teams: Otago Nuggets vs Nelson Giants
Match Timing: June 25, @ 11:00 AM
Venue: New Zealand Stadium
Both the teams are fortunate on the injury front and have a full squad to choose from and no injuries to hamper their selection.
Otago Nuggets were able to pick up two of the league’s top players in Jordan Ngatai and Jarrod Kenny in the draft and they proved their worth in the previous game.
For the Nelson Giants, they will rely primarily on their key players Tom Ingham and Thane O Leary to get them off to the start they are looking for. Mika Vukona is expected to not feature in this game.
Otago Nuggets – Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt, Kane Keil, Josh Aitcheson, Benoit Hayman,
Nelson Giants – Josh Bloxham, Tom Ingham, Dane Brooks, Thane OLeary (PF), Zeb Lovell (C)
Otago Nuggets squad – Jordan Ngatai, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Hunt, Kane Keil, Josh Aitcheson, Benoit Hayman, Darcy Knox, Richie Rodger, Sam Aruwa, Akiva McBirney-Griffin, Jack Andrew, Matthew Bardsley
Nelson Giants squad – Josh Bloxham, Dane Brooks, Tom Ingham, Mike Karena, Tysxun Aiolupotea, Mika Vukona, Theo Johnson, Tommy Garguilo, Thane OLeary, Zeb Lovell, Nic Trathen, Riley Bensemann
To get exclusive fantasy tips, enter your name and phone number below.
Team 1 –
PG: Hayman, Josh Bloxham
SG: Tom Ingham(SP) , Aiolupotea,
SF: Ngatai, Keil
PF: Aitcheson
C: Lovell
Team 2 –
PG: Josh Bloxham, Johnson
SG: J Kenny
SF: Ngatai, Keil
PF: Trathen
C: Hunt (SP), Bardsley
Otago Nuggests are expected to win this game