Game Preview: Taipans v Wildcats

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans face the Perth Wildcats in Pride Round looking to respond after a 104-86 loss to the New Zealand Breakers at HoopsFest.

Perth enter in strong form on a four-game winning streak and hold the upper hand from the last meeting, where they ran out 110-78 winners over the Snakes.

Cairns will need a composed, four-quarter effort driven by duo Jack McVeigh and Andrew Andrews to change the script.

‍Where and When

Thursday, 22 January at RAC Arena, Perth (8:30pm AEST)

How to Follow

Watch: Live on ESPN

Live Updates: Taipans X

Stats: Box Score‍

What’s Already Happened
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Recent Results
Cairns Taipans (88) v Brisbane Bullets (83)
Cairns Taipans (86) v New Zealand Breakers (104)

Perth Wildcats (92) v Illawarra Hawks (87)
SEM Phoenix (97) v Perth Wildcats (107)

The Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans’ two-game surge hit a speed bump on the HoopsFest stage, with the New Zealand Breakers pulling away after halftime to claim a 104-86 win at RAC Arena on Saturday night.

Cairns were on the back foot early as former Taipan Sam Mennenga set an aggressive tone inside, helping New Zealand establish a 26-21 quarter-time lead.

The Taipans steadied through Andrew Andrews’ tough early shots and then found their best patch in the second term, when livewire Mojave King and former Orlando Magic forward Admiral Schofield erupted to drag Cairns right back into the contest.

But with the game tightening, the night delivered a major turning point midway through the second quarter when coach Adam Forde was ejected after receiving two technical fouls.

Lead Assistant Will Lopez took the reins for the remainder of the match and while the Taipans continued to compete, the Breakers’ began to take control.

New Zealand carried a 12-point buffer into the last change and the Taipans couldn’t quite come back.

King and Schofield finished with 19 points apiece to lead Cairns, with Portland playmaker Andrews adding 15.

Marcus Lee chipped in eight points, while Cairns local Kody Stattmann was impactful off the bench. Kyrin Galloway brought his usual edge in his 150th NBL appearance, battling through a physical night to finish with five points, five rebounds and a steady presence on both ends.

It wasn’t the fairytale milestone result, but his energy and willingness to do the tough jobs kept Cairns connected during their best stretches.

Last Time They Met
Last time these two sides went head-to-head, the Wildcats came away with a 78-110 win at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Dominant big man Lual-Acuil Jr (averaging 16.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game) led Perth from the front with 24 points (10-16 FG), while shooter Elijah Pepper and high-energy forward Kristian Doolittle added 18 points each.

Taipans forward Admiral Schofield led the side with 16 points and five rebounds, while playmaker Kyle Adnam and sharpshooter Kody Stattmann scored 10 points each off the bench.

Former Cleveland Cavalier Dylan Windler notched a double-double for Perth when these two sides met in round 4 with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Wildcats are currently without their point guards David Duke Jr. (elbow) and Jaron Rillie (Hamstring).

The playmaking responsibilities have been shared around the side in their absence with Ben Henshall, Doolittle and Pepper all chipping in to fill the void of their star import.

Jack McVeigh v Kristian Doolittle
Australian Boomer Jack McVeigh was a huge out in their round 6 meeting, with the scoring machine ready to lock horns with Wildcats forward Doolittle.

McVeigh continues to lead the Taipans in scoring (fifth in the league with 20.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.3 rebounds per game), using his midrange arsenal and deadeye from three point range to punish opposition.

Meanwhile, versatile wing Kristian Doolittle continues to be an efficient scorer and impactful defender in the league averaging 15.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

McVeigh is just one away from 300 NBL career assists.
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Player to watch - Mojave King
In a tough night for the Taipans at Hoopsfest, exciting guard Mojave King was electric with an equal team-high 19 points (7-11 FG), five rebounds and four assists.

The former Breaker scorched New Zealand from three and slashed to the paint with purpose.

The Kiwi international is yet to face the Wildcats this season, having signed for the side in late October and will be a crucial addition this week.

‍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

Wildcats

PG – Ben Henshall

SG – Elijah Pepper / Dontae Russo-Nance / Sunday Dech

SF – Dylan Windler / Lat Mayen

PF – Kristian Doolittle / Jesse Wagstaff

C – Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. / David Okwera / Noa Kouakou-Heugue