Cairns falls to Perth in Karratha pre-season clash

A sharp shooting display by the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans wasn't enough against the Perth Wildcats, with the Taipans falling 102-87 in their second 2026-27 pre-season game.

It was a first game against real opposition this pre-season for both sides as they headed to Karratha, with Perth only completing an intrasquad game and Cairns coming off their own first hit out on Wednesday beating St Mary's College.

Anthony Dell'Orso was among the new faces out there for the Wildcats fresh off his college career that ended up with the last two seasons at Arizona with the returning Angus Brandt, former Taipan Alex Higgins-Titsha, development player Tana Kopa and nominated replacement player Jimmy Whitt also lining up.

Cairns had a similar group as they did on Wednesday against the Gaels with Jack McVeigh, Jonah Bolden, Jaylon Brown, Sunday Dech, Jaylin Galloway, Luke Paul and Luca Yates all unavailable for Head Coach Adam Forde.

It was a blistering start at the Karratha Leisureplex in the north of WA from the Wildcats and as a team they shot 8/11 from the outside in the first quarter.

Dell'Orso and Kristian Doolittle went 6/6 between them making three apiece while Kopa knocked down a couple after he has got his chance a year later than many might have expected having spent an NBL1 South season at Keilor Thunder.

That saw the 'Cats leading 37-21 by quarter-time while also collecting 15 rebounds to two including six at the offensive end to zero from the Taipans.

Both Dell'Orso and Kopa made their only three-point attempts in the second quarter as well for Perth but Cairns ended up outscoring them 27 to 26 with 9/17 shooting themselves and with Kyrin Galloway up to 13 points, Reyne Smith 12 and Keanu Pinder 10 against his most recent NBL team.

The Wildcats were still leading 63-48 by half-time before Jo Lual-Acuil Jr then made his mark in the third quarter to keep his team up by 13 at three quarter-time and he was up to 18 points and six rebounds.

Perth would complete the 15-point victory from there with 15/34 three-point shooting along with 15 offensive rebounds to nine to get up an extra five field goals than Cairns and eight more free throws.

Dell'Orso finished with 23 points with 5/7 three-point shooting for the Wildcats and not missing until the last quarter with Doolittle ending up going 3/4 for 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Lual-Acuil Jr also had 22 points and six rebounds, Kopa 14 points on 4/6 shooting from the outside, and Elijah Pepper 10 points and eight rebounds despite going 0/10 from beyond the arc.

Considering the players they are missing, there was plenty to like from the Taipans too with Reyne Smith hitting 4/7 from downtown for 20 points.

Kyrin Galloway added 19 points with 4/6 shooting from the outside with Keanu Pinder contributing 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, and Shaun Bruce 11 points and six assists with 3/3 three-point shooting after a strong NBL1 North season at Logan Thunder.

PERTH WILDCATS 102 – CAIRNS TAIPANS 87

Perth Wildcats
Anthony Dell'Orso – 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5/7 3PT
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr – 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Kristian Doolittle – 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Tana Kopa – 14 points, 4/6 3PT
Elijah Pepper – 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

Cairns Taipans
Reyne Smith – 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4/7 3PT
Kyrin Galloway – 19 points, 4/6 3PT
Keanu Pinder – 17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Shaun Bruce – 11 points, 6 assists, 2 steals
Lloyd McVeigh – 8 points, 2/4 3PT

Written by Chris Pike for NBL.com.au