American Keith Williams has scored 34 points to pace Otago Nuggets to their second NBL crown in three years with an 81-73 win over Aucklad Tuatara.
The southerners had to rally from 11 points behind midway through the second quarter to lead 43-42 at halftime and never trailled through the second half, leading by as many as 10 points in the third period.
Williams shot 13/23 from the floor, including two three-pointers, while grabbing eight rebounds.
All five Tuatara starters scored in double figures, but could not provide the dominant offensive weapon to match Williams, who won Most Valuable Player honours for the final.
Under coach Brent Matehaere, Otago took out the 2020 NBL Showcase title, played inside a COVID-19 bubble at Waitakere, breaking their championship drought.
After a season of fluctuating fortunes, they finished the 2022 regular season in third spot on the league table with a 10-win/eight-loss record, but overcame second-placed Nelson Giants in the semi-final to reach the title game.
In their debut season, the Tuatara toppled league leaders Taranaki Airs in their final-four match-up, after dispensing of champions Wellington Saints, but found the Nuggets too much to handle.
They closed with just one point, after teenager Dantae Russo-Nance converted two free throws with 3m 14s remaining, but were held scoreless for the rest of the journey.
Williams hit two baskets in the decisive seven-point run that carried his team clear for good.
Otago Nuggets 81 (Williams 34, Boyd 19, Timmins 10) Auckland Tuatara 73 (Schneider 16, Johnson 13, Loe 13, Russo-Nance 11, Fahrensohn 10)
