Basketball: Smashed wrist for Tait spells danger for Stars

The NBL season is over for Auckland Stars point guard Lindsay Tait after x-rays confirmed he has broken three bones in his wrist.

Tait was undercut and came down hard on his right shooting wrist playing Taranaki at the weekend and sat out Tuesday's win over Waikato.

The injury is likely to rule him out of the Tall Blacks' campaign, stifle his intention to get a team in Europe and seriously threatens the Stars' run at defending their title.

The 2005 MVP will be replaced in the starting line-up by the experienced Judd Flavell, but rules prohibit the Stars from adding newcomers to the squad this late in the competition.

The Wellington Saints will bring plenty of confidence when they take on the league-leading Stars at the ASB Stadium tomorrow night. Saints pipped second-placed Hawkes Bay away last weekend and coach Gordie McLeod is sure they are finally hitting their straps after changes to their imports stopped them gaining cohesion earlier in the season.

Tony Jones and Jamaal Livingstone departed for Chris Anderson and Nick Horvath after about six games and from there the Saints started to gather momentum and last weekend's win in Taradale confirmed them as serious title contenders.

McLeod paid tribute to veteran Brendon Pongia, who had turned up late after his morning TV show required a shift to Wellington.

"He's the one who has made a major contribution this year," McLeod said, driving them to wins over Canterbury and the Hawks in particular.

The 95-84 victory in Hawkes Bay was their most consistent performance this season, McLeod said, and a three-game road trip to the South Island had helped to forge the Saints as a team.

"Things are starting to come together, we're certainly going to be a force," he said of their playoff hopes.

"We have had two or three players going well, now we are getting more of a contribution. The good teams do that ... Hawkes Bay and Auckland have different guys stepping up and getting it done."

Flavell filled in for Tait on Tuesday and the team now relies on him.

"I'm disappointed for Lindsay because this has come at the worst possible time for him," said Stars coach Kenny Stone.

He was pleased they had beaten Waikato.

"Judd did a good job for us. I wanted to prove we could win without Lindsay. I always knew we could but it's good to prove it. You can't rely on individuals. We've always won or lost as a team and that's how it will continue to be."

The Taranaki Airs host Manawatu, Hawkes Bay host the Harbour Heat and Otago host Canterbury in other NBL games tomorrow night. On Saturday Manawatu are at home to Harbour and the Airs go to Nelson.

BEHRENDORFF SCORES

The Breakers are pleased with the form of back-up centre Tim Behrendorffin the Queensland state league.

Behrendorff won Player of the Week after he top-scored with 38 and took 18 rebounds as his Northside Wizards team beat his old side, the Cairns Marlins.

The lanky Australian has been putting on weight and working on specific parts of his game.

DRAGONS ON FIRE

The new Souths Dragons team look sure to be a serious force when they enter the league from September. New coach Mark Price has been in Atlanta looking at imports to join captain Shane Heal.