Posted on Sunday, July 26th, 2026
Game Preview: Tuatara vs Airs
The Jadcup Auckland Tuatara enter the final day of the Sal’s NBL regular season with the number-one seed within reach when they host the Taranaki Airs at Eventfinda Stadium.
Southland’s 119-94 loss to Wellington has left the Sharks on 16-4, opening the door for Auckland and Canterbury. The Tuatara and Rams both enter today at 15-4, but Auckland holds a significant points-percentage advantage.
A victory guarantees the Tuatara the top seeded finish and places them in pole position for the postseason with home court advantage. The Airs have been eliminated from postseason contention, but can influence the entire order of the top four and finish their season by denying Auckland control of the ladder.
Game Details
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara vs Taranaki Airs
When: Sunday 26 July
Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Rapid League: 2:00pm
Sal’s NBL: 3:00pm
Watch in New Zealand: Sky Sport 3 and Sky Open
International: ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube internationally
Commentary: Taylah Johnson, Casey Frank and Charlie Dalton
Box Score
Tickets
Player Status Report
The Tuatara have named Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich, Isaac Davidson, Sean Bairstow and Josh Dilling as their starting five.
Zach Riley, Dylan Wilkie, Josh Wyllie, KC Ioane, Josh Leger, Kingston Kailahi-Aso and Matthew Dalton are available from the wider rotation.
Chris Johnson remains in the United States and remains the key out for the home team.
The Airs have named Aaron Cook Jr, Brandon Stroud, Nico Hill, Marcel Jones and James Moors as their starting group.
Cook returns after missing the three-point loss to Franklin. Taane Samuel, Quintin Bailey, Luka Vea, Zavier Adam, Riley Tuuta, Jordy Cooper and Lyric Tuhaka are also available.
Finals Ramifications
The top four teams enter the final two games of the regular season separated by one victory.
Team
Record
Points percentage
Games remaining
Southland Sharks
16-4
103
Nil
Auckland Tuatara
15-4
117
Airs
Canterbury Rams
15-4
108
Bulls
Wellington Saints
15-5
110
Nil
Wins, as a percentage,are considered first, with points percentage separating teams that finish with the same record.
If Auckland wins
The Tuatara finish 16-4 and all but guarantee a top seed.
If Canterbury loses to Franklin, Auckland takes the number-one seed outright, Southland finishes second, Wellington moves to third and the Rams fall to fourth.
If Canterbury also wins, the Tuatara and Rams both finish 16-4 and points percentage decides first place. Auckland begins the day with a substantial advantage of approximately 117 to 108, meaning the Rams would require an extraordinary margin, around 190 points total, to overtake the Tuatara.
In the most likely scenario, an Auckland win places the Tuatara first, with the Canterbury result determining whether the Rams or Southland finishes second.
If Auckland loses
The Tuatara finish 15-5 and surrender control of the number-one seed.
If Canterbury wins, the Rams finish 16-4 and are positioned to take first ahead of the 16-4 Sharks. Auckland and Wellington would then be separated by points percentage for third and fourth.
If Canterbury also loses, Southland remains first at 16-4. Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury would all finish 15-5, with points percentage determining second through fourth.
Auckland enters with a major advantage over Wellington and Canterbury. A normal defeat would therefore still leave the Tuatara above the Saints, but an unusually large loss around 130 points, could bring Wellington into the equation.
For the Airs
Taranaki cannot reach the postseason, but can finish as high as eighth.
A victory takes the Airs to 7-13. If Franklin loses to Canterbury, Taranaki finishes above both the Bulls and Nelson. If Franklin wins, the Bulls and Airs would be separated by points percentage.
A loss leaves Taranaki at 6-14 and tenth on the ladder.
First Matchup
Saturday 6 June: Jadcup Auckland Tuatara 90 defeated Taranaki Airs 69
The first meeting produced two completely different halves.
Taranaki began with energy and confidence, with Moors leading the interior attack as the Airs established a 25-19 advantage after the opening quarter. The home side continued to control the contest during the second period and carried a 48-33 lead into halftime.
Auckland responded with the composure that has defined much of its season. The Tuatara held Taranaki to only six points in the third quarter while scoring 27 of their own, transforming a 15-point deficit into a six-point lead.
The visitors continued to pull away during the fourth, outscoring the Airs 57-21 across the second half.
Auckland won the rebounding battle 54-37 and held Taranaki to 33 percent shooting. The Airs forced 13 turnovers and collected 11 steals, but were unable to generate enough offence after halftime.
Taranaki Airs: James Moors 20 pts, 11 reb and 2 ast; Aaron Cook Jr 18 pts, 2 reb and 3 ast; Brandon Stroud 12 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast and 5 stl.
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara: Josh Dilling 23 pts, 5 reb and 5 ast; Isaac Davidson 18 pts, 4 reb and 4 ast; Chris Johnson 11 pts and 16 reb.
Last Time Out
Airs Surrender Halftime Lead Against Bulls
Franklin Bulls 84 defeated Taranaki Airs 81
The Airs produced an excellent opening half in Pukekohe, establishing a 22-15 first-quarter advantage before extending the margin to 49-32 at halftime.
Franklin responded with 34 points during the third quarter. Jace Carter and Derrin Boyd connected from the perimeter as the Bulls reduced Taranaki’s lead to one entering the final period.
The game remained level at 80 with less than a minute remaining before Carter Whitt found Boyd for the go-ahead three. Kael Robinson added a free throw and then stole Taranaki’s final inbound pass to complete the comeback.
The Airs shot 46 percent from the field and collected 12 steals, but made only five of their 21 three-point attempts and committed 14 turnovers.
Taranaki Airs: Taane Samuel 14 pts, 2 reb and 3 ast; Marcel Jones 12 pts, 2 reb and 5 ast; Brandon Stroud 11 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast and 5 stl.
Franklin Bulls: Carter Whitt 20 pts, 6 reb and 11 ast; Derrin Boyd 20 pts, 3 reb and 5 ast; Jace Carter 17 pts and 16 reb.
Rams Defence Slows Tuatara
Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams 91 defeated Jadcup Auckland Tuatara 80
Auckland’s battle with Canterbury developed into a defensive contest, with the Rams applying sustained pressure and forcing the Tuatara into eight turnovers during the opening quarter.
Canterbury led 17-9 after the first period and extended the advantage to 12 by halftime. The Rams continued to control the game during the third and carried a 17-point lead into the final period.
Auckland produced a 30-point fourth quarter, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
The Tuatara collected 20 offensive rebounds and finished level at 47-47 on the glass, but shot only 37 percent from the field, made seven of their 27 three-point attempts and committed 15 turnovers.
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara: Sean Bairstow 21 pts, 9 reb and 6 ast; Isaac Davidson 19 pts, 5 reb and 3 stl; Rob Loe 16 pts, 15 reb, 5 ast and 2 blk.
Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams: Tamenang Choh 19 pts, 8 reb and 4 ast; Jack Andrew 18 pts, 11 reb and 4 blk; Taylor Britt 18 pts, 6 reb and 6 ast.
What to Expect
Auckland’s defence has been the foundation of its challenge for the top seed.
The Tuatara allow a league-low 83.5 points per game and hold opponents to 41 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. Their size across the lineup makes it difficult for opponents to generate clean attempts in the paint or create uncontested perimeter looks.
The Airs enter with the league’s lowest-scoring offence at 83.1 points per game and shoot a competition-low 29 percent from three. That combination creates a significant challenge against Auckland’s defensive length.
Taranaki’s clearest opportunity comes through ball pressure. The Airs average 9.3 steals per game and force close to 15 turnovers, with Cook and Stroud among the league’s leading individual defenders.
Auckland is not a high-turnover team, but Canterbury demonstrated how disruptive pressure can prevent the Tuatara from entering their offence cleanly. The Rams forced 15 turnovers and held Auckland to 80 points.
Cook’s return gives the Airs their leading playmaker and steals leader. He must help Taranaki control the tempo while creating quality opportunities for Stroud, Moors, Jones and Samuel.
The rebounding battle presents another challenge. Auckland averages 45.1 reb and holds a plus-5.0 rebounding margin, while Taranaki is last at minus-5.8.
Moors is one of the league’s leading rebounders, but he needs support from Jones, Stroud, Samuel and Bailey against a Tuatara group featuring Loe, Vodanovich, Bairstow and Davidson.
Auckland’s balance also makes it difficult for the Airs to identify one scorer to remove. Six Tuatara players enter averaging more than 14 points, meaning the offence can shift between Dilling, Bairstow, Vodanovich, Riley, Davidson and Loe.
Matchups to Watch
Aaron Cook Jr vs Josh Dilling
The two starting point guards will have significant influence over the tempo and quality of each team’s offence.
Cook averages 14.4 pts, 3.0 reb, 6.8 ast and 2.9 stl. His return gives Taranaki its leading playmaker and point-of-attack defender after he missed the loss to Franklin.
Dilling averages 14.7 pts and 5.5 ast while making 2.5 three-pointers per game. His ability to create out of the pick-and-roll and punish defenders who go under screens is central to Auckland’s offence.
Cook will look to pressure Dilling and prevent Auckland from entering its actions comfortably. Dilling must remain composed and use that aggression to create opportunities behind the first line of defence.
James Moors vs Rob Loe
Two of the league’s most productive centres meet in a matchup that extends well beyond the paint.
Moors averages 15.5 pts and 10.3 reb while shooting 48 percent from the field. He scored 20 pts and collected 11 reb in the first meeting and provides Taranaki with its strongest interior option.
Loe averages 14.2 pts, 9.3 reb and 5.1 ast. His ability to pass from the high post and stretch the floor forces opposing centres to defend away from the basket.
Moors must establish himself on the glass while remaining disciplined against Loe’s passing and perimeter movement. At the other end, the Airs need to make Loe defend repeated post touches and offensive rebounding actions.
Brandon Stroud vs Sean Bairstow
Stroud and Bairstow are versatile wings capable of creating, defending and contributing on the glass.
Stroud averages 15.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 4.7 ast and 2.9 stl. He recorded five steals in each of Taranaki’s past two games and will again carry a major defensive workload.
Bairstow averages 14.9 pts, 5.5 reb and 4.0 ast while shooting 57 percent from the field. He enters after producing 21 pts, 9 reb and 6 ast against Canterbury.
Stroud must disrupt Bairstow without giving him driving lanes or committing unnecessary fouls. Taranaki also needs Stroud’s offence, making his ability to manage the workload at both ends important.
Individual Leaders
Jadcup Auckland Tuatara
Sean Bairstow: 14.9 pts, 5.5 reb and 4.0 ast
Tom Vodanovich: 14.9 pts, 6.3 reb and 2.0 ast
Josh Dilling: 14.7 pts, 2.6 reb and 5.5 ast
Rob Loe: 14.2 pts, 9.3 reb and 5.1 ast
Taranaki Airs
Brandon Stroud: 15.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 4.7 ast and 2.9 stl
James Moors: 15.5 pts, 10.3 reb and 1.8 ast
Aaron Cook Jr: 14.4 pts, 3.0 reb, 6.8 ast and 2.9 stl
Marcel Jones: 11.5 pts, 5.6 reb and 1.9 ast
Individual Category Leaders
Category
Auckland Tuatara
Taranaki Airs
Leading scorer
Sean Bairstow, 14.9ppg
Brandon Stroud, 15.6ppg
Rebounding
Rob Loe, 9.3rpg
James Moors, 10.3rpg
Assists
Josh Dilling, 5.5apg
Aaron Cook Jr, 6.8apg
Steals
Zach Riley, 1.2spg
Aaron Cook Jr, 2.9spg
Blocks
Rob Loe, 0.8bpg
James Moors, 0.7bpg
Field-goal percentage
Sean Bairstow, 57%
Quintin Bailey, 55%
Three-point percentage
Dylan Wilkie, 53%
Riley Tuuta, 43%
Turnovers
Tom Vodanovich, 2.1 per game
Aaron Cook Jr, 3.3 per game
Made three-pointers
Josh Dilling, 2.5 per game
Marcel Jones, 2.1 per game
Stats That Matter
Category
Auckland Tuatara
Taranaki Airs
Record
15-4
6-13
Points percentage
117
89
Raw differential
+381
–268
Last five games
3-2
1-4
Points per game
95.3, 4th
83.1, 11th
Points allowed
83.5, 1st
89.8, 5th
Scoring margin
+11.8, 2nd
–6.7, 9th
Field-goal percentage
48%, 1st
44%, 9th
Defensive field-goal percentage
41%, 1st
46%, 5th
Three-point percentage
36%, 3rd
29%, 10th
Defensive three-point percentage
29%, 1st
33%, 6th
Three-pointers made
10.7 pg, 3rd
7.9 pg, 11th
Free-throw percentage
69%, 7th
62%, 11th
Rebounds
45.1pg, 2nd
38.7pg, 8th
Rebounding margin
+5.0, 3rd
–5.8, 11th
Assists
24.1 pg, 2nd
19.5 pg, 6th
Turnovers
11.9 pg
12.9 pg
Assist-to-turnover ratio
2.0, 1st
1.5, 8th
Steals
5.6 pg, 11th
9.3 pg, 1st
Blocks
2.7 pg, 6th
2.3 pg 9th
Final Word
Auckland controls its own route to a top-two finish and has a clear opportunity to claim the number-one seed.
A victory takes the Tuatara to 16-4 and forces Canterbury to produce both a win and an extraordinary points-percentage swing to move ahead of them. A loss opens the door for the Rams to take first and brings Wellington back into the seeding equation.
For Taranaki, the postseason is no longer on tap, but the Airs can still shape the Finals bracket and close the season with one of their most significant victories.
The first meeting showed both sides of the matchup. The Airs controlled the opening half through energy, ball pressure and Moors’ interior production. Auckland then responded by holding Taranaki to six third-quarter points and dominating the second half.
Cook’s return strengthens the Airs, but Auckland’s depth, rebounding and league-leading defence make the Tuatara difficult to contain across four quarters.
With the number-one seed available and Canterbury waiting to play later in the day, the Tuatara enter their final regular-season game knowing a victory places the postseason route firmly in their hands.