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Basketball - Source: Reuters -
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A jumper from Nelson's Michael Harrison in the final seconds of their match against Taranaki sealed an 84-82 win for his team in New Plymouth on Friday.
Nelson got a quick start in the game, with Phil Jones scoring 10 in the opening quarter to help his team to a 20-14 lead at the first break.
Taranaki fought back with two threes by import Jack Leasure to have a brief two-point lead, but Jones replied with two threes of his own and at halftime Nelson were up 45-41.
Taking advantage of early turnovers by Taranaki in the third, Nelson extended their lead to nine, before Taranaki countered with a three-point play by Demarshay Johnson and lay-ups from Tyrone Davey and Leasure to cut the deficit to 3.
To start the fourth, Nelson led by as many as 15, but Taranaki scrambled back with an 8-0 run.
With 58 seconds remaining the score was all tied up and Taranaki forced a turnover to have a chance to take the lead.
A missed three-pointer by Davey ensured Nelson the last shot, and Harrison nailed the jumpshot.
For Nelson, Jones scored 37 points and went to the line an astonishing 16 times making 13.
Josh Bloxham scored 15, while Tony Rampton was the only other Nelson player in the double figures with 11.
Taranaki's Leasure and Johnson had strong games, scoring 26 and 23 respectively, while Davey pitched in with 11.
The defeat takes Taranaki's losing streak to 17, having not won since June, 2008.
