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Christchurch Cougars Paul Henare - Source: Reuters -
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The Nelson Giants have been beaten 75-76 by the Harbour Heat in Nelson, the Hawks made light work of the Taranaki Dynamos in Napier ny winning 92-64 and in Christchurch, the Cougars were beaten by the Auckland Stars 91-101.
In Nelson, the Giants dominated the first half to be ahead by 17 at the half time break, leading 24-14 at the first quarter break and then 46-29 at the end of the second.
The Heat had a much stronger third quarter offensively and also applied greater defensive pressure to get back in the game and take the third 27-16 and reduce the Giants lead to six going into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth the Heat took the lead for the first time in the game with a Mike Bell. With :55 second to play the game was tied up for the first time 74-74.
Corey Webster nailed two free throws with 25 seconds to play and with seven seconds to play Tony Rampton only made one of his free throws to hand the game to the Heat.
In Napier, the Hawks cruised passed the Dynamos and to play the Jets on Saturday night to try and get their first win of the season.
The Hawks jumped out to a 10 point lead 28-18 by the end of the first quarter which was reduced to six points by halftime (43-37).
But the Dynamos were unable to build on that momentum and the Hawks piled on the points in the third
With a 21 point lead going into the fourth the Hawks maintained it throughout the fourth quarter to register a 28 point winning margin.
In Christchurch, the Auckland Stars have finished their NBL season on a high by beating the Cougars 101-91 thanks to a game high 37 from Blagoj Janev.
The Stars lead 30-20 at the first quarter break only to lose their way in the second quarter and reach the break tied 48-48.
But the Stars rallied in the third to narrowly edge it 26-25 and take a one point lead into the fourth quarter.
They turned that into a ten point win as the Cougars were left chasing the game and gave up plenty of free throw attempts to the Aucklanders in the dying stages.
The results of Saturday night's game between the Saints and the Heat is now irrelevant to final seedings for the play-offs.
The top six is confirmed as follows:
1. Waikato Pistons
2. Nelson Giants
3. Saints
4. Christchurch Cougars
5. Harbour Heat
6. Hawks
Play-offs Games;
Tuesday 16th June: Saints v Hawks - TSB Bank Arena, Wellington -
7pm Tip Off
Wednesday 17th June: Cougars v Heat - Cowles Stadium, Christchurch
- 7pm Tip Off
Thursday 18th June: Semi Final: Giants v (Saints/ Hawks) -
Trafalgar Centre, Nelson - 7pm Tip Off.
Friday 19th June: Semi Final: Pistons v (Cougars/ Heat) - Te
Awamutu Events Centre - 7pm Tip Off
