Posted on Sunday, May 24th, 2026
Game Preview: Giants vs Nuggets
Game Preview: NBS Nelson Giants (2-5) v Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets (4-3)
The NBS Nelson Giants return to Trafalgar Centre on Sunday afternoon looking to snap a three-game slide, while the Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets arrive in Nelson searching for answers after three straight defeats of their own.
Nelson’s last outing was another frustrating near-miss, falling strong production from Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Eemi Luukkonen and Liam Judd. The Giants continue to generate enough perimeter scoring to stay in games, but trouble closing quarters and controlling the glass have become key pressure points.
Otago has looked to shake up it’s lineup following three straight defeats after a blazing 4-0 start, replacing Mikey Henn with Aussie Craig Moller, who is listed in the Nuggets’ starting five. He gives Otago a needed frontcourt piece, with the ability to shoot the ball from three while still providing interior skill, size and versatility.
When: Sunday 24 May, Rapid League 2.00pm, Sal’s NBL 3.00pm
Where: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Watch: Live on Sky Sport 1 and Sky Open in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else
Commentary: Andrew Mulligan and Casey Frank
Last Time Out
The Giants went donw 102-96 by the Hawks on their home court in Nelson. Keanu Rasmussen held the ship steady for Hawke’s Bay during a second-half comeback, finishing with a huge scoring night that at the time was a league season high 39pts, while Jackson Ball stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
For Nelson, Perrott-Hunt again led the way, Luukkonen was productive inside and Judd came up with back-to-back threes in the final minutes. But despite another strong offensive showing, the Giants could not get over the line.
NBS Nelson Giants: Kruz Perrott-Hunt (22p, 5r, 5a), Eemi Luukkonen (21p, 8r, 2a), Liam Judd (17p, 2r)
Big Barrel Hawke’s Bay Hawks: Keanu Rasmussen (39p, 6r, 5a), Jackson Ball (21p, 7r, 4a), Dan Grida (13p, 9r, 4a)
The Nuggets were beaten 98-72 by Jadcup Auckland Tuatara in Dunedin. Otago kept things tight early, trailing only 18-17 after the first quarter, but Tuatara lifted their intensity in the second and opened a 48-33 halftime lead.
From there, Auckland controlled the tempo. Chris Johnson brought energy above the rim, Tom Vodanovich controlled the game off the bench, and Josh Dilling kept the Tuatara offence organised. For Otago, Buay Tuach and Isaac Miller-Jose had moments, but the Nuggets could not generate enough consistent offence against Auckland’s pressure.
Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets: Buay Tuach (13p, 5r, 3a, 1s, 1b), Isaac Miller-Jose (12p, 9r, 3a, 4s)
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara: Tom Vodanovich (20p, 6r, 2a, 2s), Josh Dilling (15p, 2r, 7a), Chris Johnson (14p, 6r, 2a, 1b)
What to Expect
Projected Starters
NBS Nelson Giants
PG: Alex McNaught
G: Kruz Perrott-Hunt
SG: Liam Judd
F: Eemi Luukkonen
C: Tohi Smith-Milner
Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets
PG: Alain Louis
G: Ethan Rusbatch
SF: Buay Tuach
F: Craig Moller
F: Isaac Miller-Jose
Moller’s potential inclusion is the major change for a Nuggets team that has been searching for a frontcourt reset, and Moller should have an instant impact with his skillset and familiarity with the league after suiting up for Taranaki last year. He can stretch the floor from three, but he also has enough interior skill to operate inside the arc and give Otago an improved option in the frontcourt with Miller-Jose who is back in the starting lineup after spending the first portion of the season as a super sub.
That matters because the Nuggets’ offence has cooled badly. After opening the season 4-0, Otago has scored 72, 82 and 72 across its past three games. Tuach has been the most consistent threat, Rusbatch gives them experience and shot-making, but the Nuggets need another reliable frontcourt scoring and spacing option.
Nelson will need to find the range from three, keep the ball moving and get Perrott-Hunt and Judd into rhythm. The Giants remain one of the league’s highest three-point volume teams, and when Dempster, Judd, Perrott-Hunt, Matthews and Luukkonen have their eye in from deep, they can stretch any defence. But they also need to find better form finishing games and limiting second-chance opportunities.
Matchup to Watch: Craig Moller v Tohi Smith-Milner
Moller gives Otago a different look in the frontcourt and will look to produce at least to his 14.1p and 10.9r averages of a season ago. The Nuggets have needed more size, spacing and offensive variety and Moller’s ability to shoot from three while still offering interior skill should help balance the floor around Tuach, Rusbatch, Louis and Miller-Jose.
Smith-Milner gives Nelson size and physicality and his own ability to stretch the floor. He is averaging 13.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists, and his passing and shooting make him a difficult frontcourt cover when the Giants are moving the ball well.
If Moller can settle quickly, he could give Otago the frontcourt lift it has been missing. If Smith-Milner can use his experience, pull Moller into defensive decisions and connect Nelson’s offence from the high post or perimeter, the Giants can test the new Nugget immediately. Or it might just depend on which of these two finds the range from deep most often.
Matchup to Watch: Buay Tuach v Liam Judd
Tuach has been Otago’s most dangerous offensive weapon with averages of 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 53%from the field and 44%from deep. Even in the loss to the Tuatara, looked consistently capable of bending the defence.
Judd has been a key weapon for Nelson, averaging 17.3 points while shooting 38% from three. He hit big shots late against Hawke’s Bay, and when he is in rhythm, the Giants’ perimeter game becomes much harder to contain. He’s hit double figures in five straight games and with a season high of 34 he’s capable of big nights.
If Tuach wins this battle, Otago has a strong chance to get its offence back on track. If Judd gets going from deep and gives Nelson a second major scoring punch alongside Perrott-Hunt, the Giants can turn this into the kind of home-court shootout they want.
Individual Leaders
Category
NBS Nelson Giants
Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets
Stats that Matter
Stat
NBS Nelson Giants
Night ’n Day Otago Nuggets
Final Word
Nelson has an excellent shooting profile, ranking second in made threes and first at the free throw line, but Otago still owns the league’s best scoring defence and does a strong job keeping turnovers down. The Nuggets’ issue is offence, especially from three, where they sit last in both percentage and makes per game and compound that with the worst free throw percentage in the comp.
Can the Giants turn that shooting volume into a result? If Perrott-Hunt, Judd and Dempster get clean looks, and Smith-Milner and Luukkonen hold their own in their matchups, Nelson can protect home court.
For Otago, this is about stopping the slide and finding a new rhythm. If Moller is cleared and can give the Nuggets immediate spacing and frontcourt skill, Tuach and Rusbatch should have more room to operate. If Otago pairs that with its usual defensive edge, the Nuggets have a chance to reset their season on the road.