The Tall Blacks are on track for 2019 Basketball World Cup qualification, after a scrappy win against Lebanon in Rotorua on Monday night.
In one of the worst offensive displays in New Zealand basketball history, Pauls Henere's side scored a 63-60 win, their seventh on the trot.
Twenty-eight percent shooting represents a horrific night on the offensive side of the ball, but a gutsy defensive display and a few late free throws ultimately got the Kiwi side over the line.
- English verse of national anthem dropped for Tall Blacks encounter
- Corey Webster into Tall Blacks for Lebanon clash
- Tall Blacks cruise to victory over Syria in World Cup qualifier
The win extends the Tall Blacks lead atop their qualification group and almost guarantees them a spot in China next year, with the top four teams from their group advancing.
The lacklustre performance may have been a result of a 38-hour journey back home, after Friday's win over Syria, which surely zapped players' energy levels.
Coach Henare said responding to an awful first quarter, where his side trailed 18-7, showed guts, especially given the horror travel schedule.
"It was just a bit disappointing with the scheduling from FIBA," said Henare. "It was never going to be pretty, it was always going to be ugly and I'm sure that's not what FIBA are trying to achieve.
"It was a little bit disappointing that it had to be that sort of spectacle, but I'm just happy that we were able to grind it out."
Shea Ili top scored for the Tall Blacks with 14 points, while the Tai Webster chimed in with 13.
Newshub.
