Basketball: Rampant Rams thrash ghastly Giants in NBL

A dejected Giants player Sam Dempster. Photo / Photosport

Canterbury Rams 114 Nelson Giants 80

The Canterbury Rams have bounced back to .500 after thrashing the overmatched Nelson Giants tonight.

The Rams hold a 2-2 record, mixing losses to the Wellington Saints and Supercity Rangers with victories over the Giants, who are now 0-3, and the short-handed Bay Hawks.

Tonight's 114-80 win was a walk in the park, with the Rams quickly jumping out to a 10 point lead and went the last 36 minutes of the game without trailing.

Jeremy Kendle did most of the early damage, with 16 first half points as the Rams led by 17 at halftime and doubled that lead in the second half.

Kendle ended with 24 points on 10/15 shooting, five rebounds and nine assists, while Marcel Jones had 25 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

Marcus Alipate had 15 points and four assists, hitting five threes as part of an on-fire Rams side who hit 19/38 from beyond the arc. They only needed to shoot two free throws, both on and-ones.

Finn Delany had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Giants, Curtis Washington had 15 points and five rebounds and Dion Prewster had 13.

Import point guard Joe Slocum suffered the ignominy of being benched, and had eight points in 20 minutes. Rams import Will Neighbour played just 16 minutes for six points. Both players have been given public support from their coaches, but monetary context aside, neither are performing at an import level.

Max Darling and Ben Williams both scored their first career NBL points off the bench for the Rams.

The NBL round ends tomorrow when the Bay Hawks take on the Taranaki Mountain Airs, with the game being live streamed on nzherald.co.nz at 3.00pm.