Game Preview: Taipans v Hawks

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans are back on the road for a blockbuster clash with JaVale McGee, Will Hickey and the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday afternoon at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Cairns arrive hungry to respond after a fast-paced New Year’s Eve loss to the Phoenix and they’ll need to be at their sharpest against the reigning champions.

With Kyrin Galloway set to play his 50th game for the club and the McGee-Waardenburg matchup headlining, the Snakes have every reason to believe they can impose their gritty style and leave Wollongong with another statement win.

‍Where and When

Saturday, 3 January at the WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong (3:30pm AEST)

How to Follow

Watch: Live on ESPN

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score

What’s Already Happened

Recent Results
Adelaide 36ers (93) v Cairns Taipans (73)
Cairns Taipans (96) v SEM Phoenix (111)

Sydney Kings (108) v Illawarra Hawks (84)
Illawarra Hawks (92) v Tasmania JackJumpers (90)

Cairns’ New Year’s Eve showdown against the South East Melbourne Phoenix had an electrifying atmosphere with a fired-up Orange Army witnessing a high-quality opening half.

The Taipans set the tone early behind a blistering start from Mojave King (14 points), winning the first quarter and controlling the arm wrestle early. Jack McVeigh (26 points and five rebounds) carried that momentum into the second term, closing the half with a scoring burst as Cairns led 52-48 at the break.

After halftime, the game swung sharply. Phoenix veteran Nathan Sobey exploded offensively while South East Melbourne’s defensive pressure forced turnovers and disrupted Cairns’ rhythm.

Despite a powerful two-way performance from Sam Waardenburg (22 points, six rebounds and two blocks), the Taipans were unable to regain control as Phoenix broke the game open late.

Ultimately, 22 turnovers and offensive rebounds proved costly, turning a competitive contest into a 96-111 defeat despite strong individual performances from McVeigh, Waardenburg and Andrew Andrews.

The last time these sides met, Cairns produced one of the upsets of the season, stunning reigning premiers Illawarra 93-76 at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Despite travelling with a heavily shortened rotation, missing McVeigh, Waardenburg and Reyne Smith.

Cairns leaned into small-ball grit and controlled the contest with astute defence

Portland point guard Andrews led the way with a career-equalling 27 points, orchestrating the offence while Admiral Schofield (17 points and 11 rebounds) and a collective team effort owned the effort areas.

The Taipans seized control with a decisive second-quarter surge and never relinquished momentum, silencing the Wollongong crowd with one of their most complete road performances of the season.

Kyrin Galloway will play his 50th game this weekend against Illawarra, fresh off 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds the last time he faced the Hawks.

Cairns has won each of its last three games against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre.

Since returning on Christmas Day, Hawks co-captain Sam Froling has posted double-doubles in both games, including 16 points and 10 rebounds on New Year’s Eve against the JackJumpers in just his second outing back from an Achilles injury.

Illawarra has lost each of its last eight games when losing the rebound count.

Matchup to watch
Two of the NBL’s premier big men will go head-to-head for the first time this season when Illawarra’s JaVale McGee and Cairns’ Sam Waardenburg share the floor.

They’ve already crossed paths in Puerto Rico’s BSN during the offseason, but this will be their first showdown on Australian soil.

Three-time NBA champion McGee has been a dominant paint presence (21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and a league-high 2.2 blocks), while Waardenburg has returned in strong form since Round 12, averaging 14.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists.

Lineups

Taipans

PG – Andrew Andrews / Kyle Adnam / Lloyd McVeigh

SG – Mojave King / Kody Stattmann

SF –  Jack McVeigh / Mawot Mag

PF – Kyrin Galloway / Admiral Schofield

C – Sam Waardenburg / Marcus Lee

Hawks

PG – Tyler Harvey / QJ Peterson / Biwali Bayles

SG – William Hickey / Daniel Grida / Johnny Narkle

SF – Mason Peatling / Todd Blanchfield

PF – Sam Froling / Wani Swaka Lo Buluk

C – JaVale McGee / Harry Froling

Ins and Outs

Taipans

Ins – Mojave King, Lloyd McVeigh

Outs – Lachlan Barker (personal), Alex Higgins-Titsha (wrist), Reyne Smith (foot)

Hawks

Ins –

Outs – Jonah Bolden (Achilles)