Game Preview: Taipans v Phoenix

Big stage. Bigger energy. Jack McVeigh is coming off a valiant 34-point night and teams up with Andrew Andrews as the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans look to shock Nathan Sobey, John Brown III and the title-chasing Phoenix in a fired-up Pride Round clash.

‍Where and When

Saturday, 24 January at the State Basketball Centre, Melbourne (4:30pm AEST)‍

How to Follow

Watch: Live on ESPN

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score

What’s Already Happened‍

Recent Results
Cairns Taipans (86) v New Zealand Breakers (104)
Perth Wildcats (106) v Cairns Taipans (69)

Adelaide 36ers (89) v SEM Phoenix (108)
SEM Phoenix (123) v New Zealand Breakers (116)

Jack McVeigh poured in a spirited 34 points, but the Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans were overrun 106-69 by the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena in a fast-paced Pride Round clash.

Cairns’ small-ball start helped them trade early blows, level at 16-16 midway through the first.

Gritty guard Lachlan Barker had an outrageous shot-clock-beating three, while Portland playmaker Andrew Andrews dished five first-quarter assists (his third time in four games).

Perth’s size and balance then took control, leading 54-43 at halftime before exploding with a 38-13 third quarter to break the game open at 92-56 at three-quarter time.

The travelling side struggled to get back into the game before the final siren. 

McVeigh was Cairns’ lone double-digit scorer, with Andrews finishing with eight points, eight assists and two steals.

Barker added nine points and Kody Stattmann posted eight points, three rebounds and two assists in his third start this campaign. 

Late in the game, development guard Lloyd McVeigh logged a career-high 8:56 and development centre Jed Richardson made his second appearance of the season.

Phoenix brings pressure and pace, disrupting opposition offensive sets early, then turning that disruption into turnovers and transition chances.

Defensive stoppers John Brown III and Wes Iwundu in particular use their length and aggression to make every pass and catch uncomfortable.

The second-placed side shoot a high volume of threes (most in the league with 35.9 attempts per game), with Sobey leading the line with an average of 22.8 points and the league-highest 3.3 three pointers made per game.
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‍Last Time They Met
‍Last time these sides met was the New Year’s Eve clash at the Cairns Convention Centre, with the Taipans falling 96-111.

NBL MVP contender Sobey led the visiting side with 31 points and 10 assists, while McVeigh (26 points) and Sam Waardenburg (22 points) combined for 48 points.

Former NBA guard Ian Clark had a breakout performance for the Phoenix in their top-of-the-table clash against Adelaide 36ers earlier this week with a season-high 27 points. 

Joining South East Melbourne in late December, Clark is a pesky two-way presence capable of knocking down shots and relieving playmaking pressure.

The Memphis talent, who has 330 NBA games to his name with Utah, Denver, New Orleans and Golden State, previously won an NBL championship with the Sydney Kings in 2022.

McVeigh v Brown III
McVeigh against Phoenix import Brown III is a blockbuster matchup, with Cairns’ most efficient scorer meeting one of the league’s most relentless defenders.

McVeigh’s elite midrange arsenal is built on rhythm, finding his spots and punishing any defender who loses a step.

Brown brings the opposite energy with length and aggression, competing through every cut and screen to take space away and apply pressure.

Brown III made life difficult for McVeigh in their New Year’s Eve matchup, however the former Houston Rocket still finished with 26 points and five rebounds.

McVeigh made a career-high eight three-pointers against Perth on Thursday - equal-most of any player in the league this season.

King v Foxwell
Two young guns of the NBL, Owen Foxwell and Mojave King have caught the eye of fans across the league with their unique profiles. 

Kiwi guard King (10.5 points per game) continues to be a bright spark for Cairns since signing with the side in late October, bringing tenacity in transition and threat from the three-point line.

Meanwhile, Foxwell (11.8 points and 4.6 assists per game) continues to grow as a dynamic two-way guard.

The 22-year old stepped up in Sobey’s absence against Adelaide 36ers, showing his poise with his first career double-double of 15 points, 12 assists and three steals.

Both players have had their fair share of international exposure with the Tall Blacks and Boomers across the past twelve months.

‍Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde:
“In the first half we were switched on with a number of things but the one-on-one matchups were eating us up, but our issue in the third quarter was our attention to detail and our concentration levels were gone.”

“When you look at the dynamic centres in the league, Jo Lual-Acuil is one of the best ones. Our dynamic centre is Sam Waardenburg and his ability to stretch the defence, put the ball on the floor and defend.”

“We look to Marcus Lee and Kyrin Galloway to fill that void, but they’re uniquely (different players). To get them to do what Waardenburg does is unfair. We’re trying to utilise their best strengths. Sometimes they have great games, sometimes they have bad games and today (against Wildcats) was just a bad game.”

“There was a design for how (the side) was supposed to look. Reyne Smith played 11 games and Alex Higgins-Titsha played nine games. We changed out our point guard early on, Andrews has been fantastic but joined our side late. Waardenburg only playing eight games wasn't on our list and we don’t have the means to replace him. It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing I can do about (the injuries).”

“This group is a really good group of guys, I don’t have any disciplinary issues. They work hard and they’re doing everything I can ask for. We’re just depleted and the confidence has taken a massive hit. All I can ask is to wash this one, we’ve still got seven games to play. We'll keep rolling with this group for the last month of the season.”

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 – Marcus Lee / Jed Richardson‍

Phoenix

PG – Owen Foxwell / Ian Clark

SG – Nathan Sobey / Angus Glover / Daniel Foster / Patrick Ryan

SF – Wes Iwundu / Malique Lewis

PF – John Brown III / Akech Aliir / DJ Mitchell

C – Jordan Hunter / Ellis Biggar

Ins and Outs

‍Taipans

Ins – Mojave King, Lachlan Barker, Lloyd McVeigh, Jed Richardson

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

Phoenix

Ins and Outs – N/A