Tauranga Whai are having a week-long break between last week's game against the Wellington Saints, before their next home game at Mercury Baypark against the Nelson Giants.

The NBL tip-off is scheduled for 7.30pm, Friday, June 7.

This break will give head coach Matt Lacey valuable time to integrate Ira Lee into the team and work on the synergy needed to get back into top six contention.

"We encourage all fans to come out and support the team at our upcoming games. Your support is crucial as we push towards our goals for the season," says a Tauranga Whai spokesperson.

On May 28, the Tauranga Whai faced off against the Wellington Saints in a highly anticipated game. With the Saints missing two of their starting five, the Tauranga Whai saw this as a prime opportunity to strike.

Tauranga Whai facing off against the Wellington Saints. Photo: Supplied.

The game was further electrified by the arrival of Ira Lee, Whai's newest player, who touched down at Tauranga Airport at 9am the previous morning.

Ira's arrival came after a 48-hour journey from Tel Aviv, Israel, where he had just concluded his season with Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Israel Winner League.

Ira, who is no stranger to the NZNBL, having played the 2023 season for the Hawkes Bay Hawks, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Whai.

The 26-year-old, six foot seven inch power forward showcased his strength and agility on the court last night, much to the delight of Whai fans.

Ira's impressive stats from his time with the Hawkes Bay Hawks – 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game – make him a valuable addition to the Tauranga Whai, who have struggled without a player of his caliber.

In a game that saw the lead fluctuate between 20 and 5 points, the Wellington Saints bench ultimately proved too experienced and deep for the Tauranga Whai.

Despite a valiant effort from the Whai, the Saints' sharpshooting secured their victory with the final score of 102 to Saints and 90 to Tauranga Whai.

The Saints' shots fell when they needed them most.Their remarkable performance from beyond the arc, hitting 18 three-pointers with an impressive 51 per cent shooting percentage, was a spectacle to behold.

Top Performers:

Tauranga Whai:

• Phill Carr: 31 points, 3 steals
• Kruz Perrott-Hunt: 14 points, 2 steals
• Ira Lee: 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals