Jawai, Machado spark Taipans to fighting effort

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans provided a performance full of heart back home on Monday night led by Nate Jawai and Scott Machado but it wasn’t quite enough to get over the defending champion Perth Wildcats.

The Taipans were back at the Pop-Up Arena for just the second last home game for the 2021 NBL season and they needed to put in an improved showing after a tough to take loss in Melbourne against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Friday.

And to the full credit of the Snakes, they took the challenge right up to the two-time defending champions who are locked in a battle over top spot still with Melbourne United.

It was a see-saw contest most of the way until Perth did open up the ultimately match-winning gap in the fourth quarter on the way to the 89-78 win, there was still a lot to be encouraged about from a Taipans perspective.

Limiting Perth on the offensive glass is always a focus against the Wildcats and Cairns did well limiting them to just seven for only six second chance points.

Nate Jawai was a powerful force the entire night for the Taipans as he continues to finish this season as healthy and in-form as he's ever shown in the NBL on a regular basis. He finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks on 9/14 shooting.

Scott Machado has had his struggles late but he stepped up big time on Monday for 17 points, eight assists and four rebounds while hitting 4/7 from three-point territory.

Fabijan Krslovic had a significant impact off the bench too with 11 points and four rebounds on 5/7 shooting while Tad Dufelmeier added eight points, seven rebounds and three assists, Majok Deng six points and six boards, Jordan Ngatai five points, Venky Jois five points, Mojave King three and Mirko Djeric three.

Taipans coach Mike Kelly was happier with the performance than back on Friday against the Phoenix, but it still had some areas where they let themselves down in.

"I thought the guys competed the whole way through. The other day we didn't do that well (on Friday), tonight I was happy with the effort," Kelly said.

"Perth got more comfortable with our zone as the game wore on. We turned the ball over under defensive pressure, all game we turned it over and they ran over us in the fourth - it killed us."

Despite Perth starting quickly to lead 10-4 early with Bryce Cotton, Mitch Norton and Todd Blanchfield making up nine of those Perth points, it was Nate Jawai keeping the Snakes in it.

He had eight points and a pair of big blocked shots in the first five minutes, and Scott Machado started well too and when he knocked down a pair of triples, scores were all tied heading towards quarter-time.

Venky Jois then hit a couple of baskets and Fabijan Krslovic knocked down a three and the Taipans were just two points down at the end of one on the back of nailing 3/5 from three-point land.

Krslovic then kept his good touch flowing with two quick baskets to start the second term and then Jordan Ngatai did the same including knocking down the three ball as the Taipans' lead got out to five points halfway through the quarter.

Majok Deng then hit a three as well and Machado hit his third triple of the first half, but despite all the good signs, the Wildcats still went into half-time leading 45-44.

Perth might have hit the first four points of the second half but then Cairns took back over through Jawai who not only scored five quick points, but also found Mojave King for the three to put the Taipans back in the lead.

Three balls to close out the third quarter from Machado and Mirko Jeric ensured the scores were all tied up at 65-65 at three quarter-time.

Perth quickly blew the game open again, though, to start the fourth quarter with a 10-2 run over the opening four minutes. Jawai gave the Snakes a brief sniff again with seven more points, but Cotton just made sure the 'Cats wouldn’t be denied as the visitors went on to win by 13 points.

The Taipans' next match will now also be against Perth but out west at RAC Arena on Friday night. The good news is that the Wildcats have another game in between in Brisbane on Wednesday before returning home.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

CQUNIVERSITY CAIRNS TAIPANS 78 (Jawai 20, Machado 17, Krslovic 11)

PERTH WILDCATS 89 (Cotton 24, Mooney 11, Blanchfield 11) 

BOX SCORE