Posted on Saturday, July 11th, 2026
Game Preview: Sharks vs Giants
The Sharks return to the Shark Tank with their sights firmly set on catching the top-of-the-table Tuatara, but face a Nelson Giants side arriving in Invercargill with renewed belief and the hottest scorer in the competition.
Southland have won 13 out of 14 and sit 2nd at 14-3, continuing to apply pressure at the top of the ladder. Their last outing was a hard-fought victory despite the absence of Sam Timmins, with Keylan Boone finding his scoring touch and Rylan Jones again controlling the game from the backcourt.
Nelson, meanwhile, are fighting for their postseason lives and enter the game after a crucial win that keeps them in the midst of large group chasing the final postseason position. Shane Gatling produced one of the great individual performances of recent memory with 56 points, and if the Giants are to pull off an upset in Invercargill they may once again need their import guard to create something special.
When: Saturday 11 July, Rapid League 6.30pm, Sal’s NBL 7.30pm
Where: ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
Watch: Sky Sport 4 in New Zealand, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else
Commentary: Nathan Limm and Krystal Leger-Walker
Last Time They Met
13 June 2026: SBS Bank Southland Sharks 95 def NBS Nelson Giants 85
The Giants made the stronger start in Nelson, with Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Liam Judd helping the home side to a 25-21 lead at quarter time.
But Southland gradually took control and eventually built a 13-point advantage, even as Nelson refused to disappear. Samuel Dempster and Shane Gatling kept the Giants within striking distance before the Sharks found the answers to every push from the home team in the second half.
Brayden Inger led Southland with 25 points, while Sam Timmins and Keylan Boone controlled the glass as the Sharks closed out a 95-85 road victory to keep their winning streak going.
NBS Nelson Giants: Tohi Smith-Milner 17p, 7r, 3a; Shane Gatling 16p, 2a; Kruz Perrott-Hunt 15p, 8r, 5a
SBS Bank Southland Sharks: Brayden Inger 25p, 7r, 1a; Sam Timmins 17p, 6r, 4a; Keylan Boone 15p, 11r
Last Time Out
Sharks Hold Off the Rams
The Sharks strengthened their position near the top of the ladder with a 103-98 victory over Canterbury.
Both teams entered missing major pieces due to international duties, with Southland without Sam Timmins and Canterbury missing Taylor Britt and Tamenang Choh.
The Rams found offensive rhythm through Walter Brown and Jack Andrew, but Southland’s depth ultimately proved decisive. Keylan Boone delivered a huge 35-point, 10-rebound performance, while Rylan Jones added 27 points, five rebounds, six assists and five steals.
The Sharks won the second and fourth quarters, producing the decisive scoring runs when the game was there to be taken, showing that even without the big man in the middle they have plenty if talent to grab the win.
Leading Players
SBS Bank Southland Sharks: Keylan Boone 35p, 10r; Rylan Jones 27p, 5r, 6a, 5s; Tobias Cameron 17p, 5r, 2s
Canterbury Rams: Jack Andrew 22p, 11r; Walter Brown 15p, 6r, 10a; Jake Holmes 14p, 8r, 2a
Gatling Goes Nuclear as Giants Stay Alive
Shane Gatling produced a remarkable 56-point performance as Nelson defeated the Franklin Bulls 88-85.
Gatling scored 18 points in the opening quarter and continued to torch the Bulls throughout the first half, helping Nelson establish a 19-point advantage.
Franklin fought its way back in the second half behind a revitalised Jace Carter and dead eye shooting from young gun Hunter Savill, but every time the Bulls threatened, Gatling found another answer.
The 56-point outing lifted Gatling’s season average to 28.6 points per game, second in the Sal’s NBL scoring race entering the weekend.
Leading Players
NBS Nelson Giants: Shane Gatling 56p, 2r, 3a, 2s; Daniel Saylor 12p, 5r, 4a, 2s, 4b; Liam Judd 7p, 8r
Franklin Bulls: Derrin Boyd 23p, 3a; Jace Carter 20p, 13r, 4a, 3s; Carter Whitt 14p, 6r, 6a
What to Expect
The first question is simple: how do the Sharks plan to deal with Shane Gatling?
Nelson’s offence has transformed since Gatling arrived. He is averaging 28.6 points per game, second only to Elijah Pepper, while shooting 37 percent from three and 93 percent from the free-throw line.
But Southland can lay claim to a deeper cache of offensive weaponry.
Caleb Asberry averages 21.4 points on 55 percent shooting, Keylan Boone has been streaking of late while producing 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, Rylan Jones has bounced back from injury with averages 16.9 points, 6.8 assists and 2.6 steals, and most importantly Sam Timmins returns from international duty with averages of 17.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and a league-leading 1.9 blocks per game.
The Sharks score 96.9 points per game, third in the league, and shoot 48 percent from the floor. Nelson sit ninth in scoring at 86.1 points and last in field goal percentage at 41 percent.
That makes Nelson’s shot-making critical if they want to keep pace with their hosts in the Shark Tank.
Gatling cannot be the only Giant producing offence. The returning Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Tohi Smith-Milner and Liam Judd will all need to find scoring opportunities, while Eemi Lukkonen and Daniel Saylor will bring the size and strength up front.
For Southland, the return of Timmins gives them their interior anchor back and allows Boone and Inger to return to more natural perimeter focused roles, but they aren’t quite full strength with the continued absence of Max Darling and Tukaha Cooper.
Matchup to Watch: Shane Gatling v Rylan Jones, Caleb Asberry & Tobias Cameron
Gatling is the obvious problem Southland must account for.
It isn’t just dropping 56 points against Franklin, the Giants guard enters as one of the most dangerous individual scorers in the competition with four straight appearances of 30 points or more and all but 2 of his 8 games hitting at least 26 points. He can create off the bounce, pull up from range and punish contact by getting to the free-throw line to finish with league best efficiency.
Southland have three very different guards capable of making him work.
Rylan Jones is third in the league in steals at 2.6 per game and brings constant ball pressure, Caleb Asberry has the perfect blend of size and speed to challenge Gatling while Cameron can bring elite physicality while averaging 2 steals a game of his own.
The other side of the matchup matters just as much.
Gatling will have to expend energy defending a Sharks backcourt that can attack from multiple positions. Asberry leads Southland at 21.4 points per game, Jones’ ability to dictate tempo and create for others is central to everything the Sharks do while Cameron is hitting at 14.9ppg and can punish defence with range from deep or in transition
Nelson need another Gatling scoring night.
Southland will make him earn every point.
Matchup to Watch: Tohi Smith-Milner and Daniel Saylor v Sam Timmins and Keylan Boone
The Giants are going bigger in Invercargill.
Daniel Saylor is listed to start alongside Tohi Smith-Milner, with Eemi Luukkonen available off the bench.
That size will be required against a Southland frontcourt restored closer to full strength with the return of Sam Timmins.
Timmins averages 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the floor. He is fourth in the league in rebounding and leads the competition in blocked shots. Keylan Boone adds another 7.4 rebounds and enters after a monster 35-point, 10-rebound performance against Canterbury.
Saylor has made an immediate impact for Nelson, averaging 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds through his first three games, while Smith-Milner remains the Giants’ most physical interior presence.
Nelson need to compete on the glass and keep Timmins away from his preferred spots.
Southland will look to test the Giants’ frontcourt depth from the opening tip.
Individual Leaders
Category
SBS Bank Southland Sharks
NBS Nelson Giants
Leading Scorer
Caleb Asberry, 21.4
Shane Gatling, 28.6
Leading Rebounder
Sam Timmins, 10.2
Tohi Smith-Milner, 8.5
Leading Assists
Rylan Jones, 6.8
Alex McNaught, 5.1
Best FG%
Sam Timmins, 58%
Daniel Saylor, 53%
Best 3PT FG%
Caleb Asberry, 43%
Sam Dempster, 38%
Blocks
Sam Timmins, 1.9
Daniel Saylor, 1.7
Steals
Rylan Jones, 2.6
Alex McNaught, 1.4
Minutes
Sam Timmins, 33.8
Alex McNaught, 32.3
Stats that Matter: League Rankings
Stat
SBS Bank Southland Sharks
NBS Nelson Giants
Points Per Game
96.9 (3rd)
86.1 (9th)
Points Allowed
89.2 (4th)
90.6 (7th)
Scoring Margin
+7.7 (4th)
-4.5 (6th)
FG%
48% (4th)
41% (11th)
FG% Defence
45% (5th)
45% (3rd)
FT%
72% (4th)
74% (1st)
3P%
36% (3rd)
31% (9th)
3P% Defence
34% (7th)
31% (2nd)
3P Made Per Game
12.2 (1st)
11.0 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game
41.6 (5th)
42.8 (4th)
Rebounding Margin
+1.7 (4th)
-1.6 (6th)
Assists Per Game
20.2 (5th)
18.1 (10th)
Steals Per Game
8.8 (3rd)
6.4 (9th)
Blocks Per Game
3.4 (4th)
2.4 (8th)
Turnover Margin
+1.0 (4th)
-0.6 (7th)
Assist/Turnover Ratio
1.58 (5th)
1.51 (7th)
Last Word
The Sharks are closing in on the postseason with a top-two finish and direct path to the semifinals still firmly in their grasp.
Nelson cannot afford to look that far ahead.
The Giants need wins, and the arrival of Gatling has given them a scorer capable of changing a game by himself.
But this is a different challenge.
Timmins is back, the Sharks’ starting five is intact, and Southland return to the Shark Tank carrying a three-game winning streak.
The Giants have the hottest scorer in the league.
While the Sharks may have the deepest collection of answers they have been upset on their home court previously this season.
Will it be the desperation of a revitalised Giants squad or the steady swimming of the Sharks that comes back with the win from Invercargill?