Overtime Buzzer Beater Secures Huge Win

In a game that will go down as one of the great Wellington Saints moments, Hyrum Harris etched his name into club folklore with a stunning buzzer-beater to defeat the Jadcup Auckland Tuatara 107–106 in overtime on Saturday night at TSB Arena.

With just 0.4 seconds on the clock, Harris caught an inbound pass and drained the game-winner, sending the crowd into raptures and cementing the Saints’ place in the 2026 Sal’s NBL Final 6.

The play capped off a dramatic contest between two top-tier sides, with momentum swinging wildly in a physical, high-scoring encounter. Jordan Ngatai led all scorers with 30 points and 4 rebounds, while Harris finished with a double-double — 19 points and 11 boards — the last bucket proving to be the most important of his career.

Nick Mills was emotional post-game, likening the moment to one of the most iconic in New Zealand basketball history:

“That shot from Hyrum gave me the exact same feeling I had when Kenny McFadden hit the game-winner in 1985,” Mills said. “It was pure magic — that’s what Saints basketball is all about.”

For the Tuatara, American import Luther Muhammad had a standout night with 26 points and 7 rebounds, while Charles Pride added 15 points and 3 steals in a gutsy losing effort.

With the win, the Mills Albert Wellington Saints have officially booked their spot in the 2026 Final 6 — a major milestone as the club eyes another championship run.

Looking ahead, the Saints return to TSB Arena this Saturday to face the Tauranga Whai in a special fixture where the team will debut their one-time Courts in Schools charity jersey. The custom singlets will be auctioned off following the game to raise funds for the club’s initiative to build more basketball courts in local schools — a key mission of the Saints’ off-court legacy.

Tip-off is set for 7:30pm, with doors opening from 6:15pm and Rapid taking place at 6:30. It promises to be another electric night in the capital - Get your tickets here