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Airs deflated after loss

The Auckland Tuatara are into the National Basketball League grand final after a wild come from behind overtime win. Auckland produced a stunning finish to the fourth quarter and then prevailed in overtime to beat the Taranaki Airs 107-104 in the first semifinal on Thursday night. Top seeds Taranaki looked headed for their first NBL grand final in team history, leading 91-86 with nine seconds left. American swingman Anthony Hilliard, who has been so outstanding for the Airs this season, missed two free throws. The Tuatara, in their first season of existence, made the Airs pay with Rob Loe delivering an incredible sequence of plays. Leading Tall Black Loe made a layup, then snaffled a steal off Hilliard and made a pressure three with three seconds left to lock it at 91-91. Auckland fed off that fourth quarter finish, taking out the fiveminute overtime period 16-13 to advance to today’s grand final at their Eventfinda Stadium home. They will take on the winner of last night’s second semifinal between the Nelson Giants and Otago Nuggets.

Sport

en-nz

2022-08-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282136410190470

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