Sharpshooter Shimona Nelson became the second player to score 5000 Super Netball goals, but it was her replacement Uneeq Palavi who stepped up in the Melbourne Mavericks' moment of need to overcome a spirited Queensland Firebirds 60-57.
Knowing a win on Saturday would help the Mavericks tighten their grip on third spot and inch closer to hosting next week's minor semi-final, Nelson nailed 33 goals from 39 attempts to bring up the milestone and follow in the footsteps of fellow Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.
