Hawke's Bay have ended the regular National Basketball League season with a 98-87 win over the Otago Nuggets to win their second ever regular season and finish with a franchise best 83.3 percent winning percentage.
Finishing top is also a good omen for the Hawks coach Tab Baldwin, who went on to win the championship four times out of five when the Auckland Stars won the regular season.
The Hawks' regular season record of 15 wins and three losses beats the previous best of 13-3 in 2012, ironically coached by Paul Henare, who will be in charge of the Southland Sharks, who will face them in the first semi-final.
In Christchurch, the Canterbury Rams ended their season on a high note with a 90-87 win over the Sharks.
The Nelson Giants and the Wellington Saints both won their National Basketball League games on Friday night, which means they will face each other in next week's semi-final.
