Forward Tom Vodanovich and teenage guard Taine Murray have been cut from the Tall Blacks squad to contest next month's Basketball World Cup in China.
The NZ men's basketball team rallied from a 34-point loss to Canada the previous night to drop a 103-100 overtime contest in Sydney on Wednesday, led by Corey Webster's 33-point performance.
But coach Paul Henare's satisfaction at a much-improved improved showing was tempered by the task of having to trim his playing group by two, before heading to China for the final stages of his World Cup preparation.
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"These are always the most difficult decisions and all the more so when leading into a tournament such as a World Cup," said Henare. "Tom and Taine have both shown they are going to return to this environment, and I hope will take a huge amount from their time in camp and on tour.
"Taine has been on such a steep learning curve this whole time - he has grown immensely as a basketball player. He is a lovely young man, brought up well by his folks.
"He has a real desire to learn and grow in his craft.
"Donnie's [Vodanovich] enthusiasm and energy is fantastic, especially away from the floor. Given he hasn't played as much as he would like, that hasn't waned.
"His input, vocally, at meetings and on the side of the court has been outstanding - both have had a positive impact on our team."
Neither Murray nor Vodanvoich took the court in the three-point loss to Canada, although both got limited run in their previous defeat.
New Zealand were far more competitive in their second outing, leading by as many as 12 points in the second quarter and through most of the opening three quarters, but trailling by just one into the final stage.
The Canadians seized a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and threatened to run away, but the Tall Blacks hung tough, with Webster in command.
They had several chances to steal victory in the closing minute of regulation, but guard Tai Webster and forward Finn Delany missed a pair of free throws each to squander those opportunities.
Ultimately, Corey Webster converted a three-point play with 13 seconds remaining, driving to the basket to score and making a free throw to tie the scores and force an extra period.
But when Canada slotted the first seven points of overtime, New Zealand were playing catch-up all over again and fell just short in their desperate comeback.
Webster shot six three-pointers in his haul, while Ethan Rusbatch took advantage of captain Tom Abercrombie's foul trouble to seal his ticket to China, scoring 15 points.
"That was a much better effort and playing at the required intensity at this level," said Henare. "That was really good to see the response.
"Obviously, we are still disappointed with the result, but knowing the way we can play against quality athleticism, length and what they were doing systematically, it was pleasing to see such a change in such a short turnaround.
"We have to keep reminding ourselves about how we do those things, through messages, conversations, watching video. It is a good reminder that we can play at that level."
They now head to China for the final stages of their build-up, before their World Cup opener against Brazil on September 1.
Newshub.
