The Wellington Saints came to town all guns blazing and lit up the court in a National Basketball League match in New Plymouth last night.

The Saints shot out to an early lead with their hit-and-run game and cruised to a 124-102 win against a spirited Taranaki Mountain Airs lineup to remain unbeaten after five games.

The Saints' three-point shooters – Corey Webster and Troy McLean – were deadly. Webster stunned the 900-strong crowd early on, making no mistake with three bombs from the deep as the visitors raced to a 10-point lead at 20-10.

That set the tone for the match, with defence going out the door and both sides bringing up 100 points in a shooting free-for-all. Not that many in the crowd minded – the three-point shooting alone was worth the price of the ticket, with the Saints slotting 12 from 21 and the Mountain Airs seven from 24.

Webster cooly lined up and drilled five from six from beyond the arc, while McLean managed six from nine.

The Mountain Airs also got in on the act, with import Jack Leasure knocking down six from 15, including a cracker from nearly two metres outside the line to bring up his side's 100.

But that was the difference. The Saints had two outside shooters to Taranaki's one, with the inside shooting led by a game-high 34 from Taranaki giant Marcus Campbell. The American also pulled down 15 rebounds in his best display in the league.

"A tough night. We won by 22, but it wasn't a good reflection of the game. It was more an eight to 12-point game," Saints coach Pero Cameron said.

"I thought their two imports [Campbell and Leasure] were outstanding and Aaron [Taranaki captain Bailey-Nowell] for his tremendous leadership. They came out and gave it to us. The big guy is really solid. I like his aggression, he's a talent."

As for his side's three-point shooting, Cameron played it down.

"That's what they do. They work on it every morning and shoot every day."

The Saints have 24 hours to recover after a doubleheader on the road (they beat the Waikato Pistons in Hamilton on Wednesday night) and prepare to take on the Otago Nuggets in Porirua tonight.

For the Mountain Airs, scoring points wasn't the problem. They just struck a team loaded with talent that will take them to the playoffs. "It was always going to be a shootout with the Saints. They were four from four from the outside early on," Taranaki coach David Bublitz said.

"Marcus had a great game ... 34 points and 15 rebounds. That's what we need. But with their firepower, it was too much. They're the pick of the teams in the competition, really efficient. Their three-point shooting was outstanding."

The Mountain Airs should have a better shot next Thursday when they take on the Southland Sharks at the TSB Stadium. Mind you, that got a little harder yesterday with Breakers guard Kevin Braswell signing for Southland.

Meanwhile, the Nelson Giants and competition leaders Bay Hawks both scored wins last night.

The return of key performers Phill Jones and Mika Vukona proved the charm for the Giants as they scored their first win, beating the Otago Nuggets 86-77 in Nelson.

Vukona from the Breakers arrived in Nelson only an hour before the game, while Jones, who played for beaten finalists Cairns in the Australian NBL finals, was immediately evident for the Giants.

The Bay Hawks proved too strong for the Auckland Pirates in Hastings, winning 89-74 to pick up their seventh win from seven games.

WELLINGTON SAINTS 124 (Kareem Johnson 25, Corey Webster 23, Troy McLean 22, Erron Maxey 16, Lindsay Tait 15) TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS 102 (Marcus Campbell 34, Jack Leasure 26, Aaron Bailey-Nowell 15, Link Abrams 13). Halftime, Saints 66-51.

NELSON GIANTS 86 (Darryl Dora 25, Phill Jones 18, Mike Fitchett 10) OTAGO NUGGETS 77 (Craig Bradshaw 27, Lance Allred 18, Scott O'Gallagher 17). Halftime: Nelson 47-37.

- Taranaki Daily News