Game Preview: Taipans v Bullets

In the battle for Queensland bragging rights, the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans will go head-to-head with state rivals Brisbane Bullets in a fiery clash at the Cairns Convention Centre.

After coming away with a win each in their previous two match-ups this season, Monday's clash will be the decider.

Jack McVeigh, Sam Waardenburg and the Taipans will be gunning for victory in front of the Orange Army in a must-see showdown.
‍
‍Where and When

Monday, 12 January at the Cairns Convention Centre (6:30pm AEST)‍

How to Follow

Watch: Live on ESPN

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score‍

What’s Already Happened

Recent Results
Illawarra Hawks (96) v Cairns Taipans (78)
Melbourne United (92) v Cairns Taipans (93)

Brisbane Bullets (75) v Perth Wildcats (95)
Brisbane Bullets (86) v Adelaide 36ers (97)

The Taipans delivered a heart-stopping 93-92 win over Melbourne United in Bendigo on Wednesday night, surviving a final-minute classic behind an Andrew Andrews masterclass and Marcus Lee’s game-saving moments at the rim and the free throw line.

In their final Ignite Cup clash, Cairns jumped out early through Sam Waardenburg’s opening three then surged to a 29-22 quarter-time lead.

Their highest first-quarter score of the season was sparked by stretch four Kyrin Galloway’s hot start with 13 points (4-5 FG) at halftime.

Melbourne responded with a 10-2 run in the second term to lead 45-43 at the break, then opened the second half with another 7-0 burst before the Taipans answered through Jack McVeigh’s third-quarter takeover.

The fourth quarter pressure spiked and the intensity followed, with the game locked at 92-92 late before centre Lee denied United import Jesse Edwards at the rim, then hit a crucial free throw with seven seconds left.

Cairns then sealed it with a final-effort defensive stand, Kody Stattmann’s contest forcing Milton Doyle’s last shot to miss as the final siren sounded.

McVeigh finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Andrews posted 13 points and 13 assists while Waardenburg added 20 points and nine rebounds.

Last Time They Met

In their previous two Queensland clashes this season. The Taipans defeated the Bullets 83-82 in their Round 2 fixture, before falling 113-85 in Round 7.

The Taipans have welcomed back Sam Waardenburg since the last time these sides met, while Brisbane have lost superstar shooting guard Casey Prather (24.4 points per game) to a season-ending knee injury, along with Javon Freeman-Liberty (hamstring) and Tyrell Harrison (concussion) and Sam McDaniel (calf).

The Bullets capped off 2025 by signing Colorado guard Hunter Maldonado from the SEM Phoenix as an injury replacement player for Dakota Mathias.

The 26-year-old made his club debut in the Bullets loss to the 36ers, finishing with 16 points (4-13 FG), nine assists and two steals.

This season, Brisbane has used the most different starting fives (13), while the Taipans have used 11.

The Bullets have lost 11 of its last 12 games.
‍
Player to watch - Andrew Andrews

Portland point guard Andrews was enormous in the Taipans 92-93 upset victory against Melbourne United, recording 13 points and a season-high 13 assists, controlling tempo and unleashing bullet passes to his teammates.

By reaching double figures in assists, he also hit a significant franchise marker, passing Scott Machado’s 2020-21 season average of 7.0 assists per game for the second-best assist season in Taipans history with 7.1 assists per game.

Andrews currently ranks third in the league for assists per game, behind elite playmakers Bryce Cotton (7.8) and Parker Jackson-Cartwright (7.7).

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde:
“We can talk about Andrew Andrews 13 points and 13 assists, Sam Waardenburg being an elite all-round player and Jack McVeigh being an absolute bucket-getter. But it was an all-round contribution from a lot of guys."

"Kyrin Galloway hit big shots at the start to tick the scoreboard over. Lachlan Barker, Marcus Lee and everyone stepped up."

"Momentum is a funny thing. It can be one game, two games. For us, the momentum has been quarter to quarter. Especially the past two games, we had two great opening quarters and then the momentum was about stringing the third quarter together. Today we had four great quarters against a hell of a team. Now it’s about stringing two wins together. Quarter by quarter, possession by possession."

‍‍Lineups

‍Taipans

PG – Andrew Andrews / Lachlan Barker / Kyle Adnam

SG – Mojave King / Kody Stattmann / Lloyd McVeigh

SF –  Jack McVeigh

PF – Kyrin Galloway / Admiral Schofield

C – Sam Waardenburg / Marcus Lee‍

Bullets

PG – Mitch Norton / Hunter Maldonado

SG – Tristan Devers / Taine Murray

SF – Alex Ducas / Jack Purchase / Jensen Bradtke

PF – Terry Taylor / Tohi Smith-Milner

C – Jacob Holt / Callum Dalton

‍Ins and Outs

‍Taipans

Ins – Mojave King, Lachlan Barker, Lloyd McVeigh

Outs – Alex Higgins-Titsha (wrist), Reyne Smith (foot), Mawot Mag (foot) ‍

Bullets

Ins – Taine Murray, Tristan Devers, Jensen Bradtke

Outs – Casey Prather (Knee), Dakota Mathias (Shoulder), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Hamstring), Lamar Patterson (Hamstring), Taine Murray (Ankle), Tyrell Harrison (Concussion), Sam McDaniel (calf)