Round 3: Taipans v Kings

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans v Sydney Kings, 6:30pm AEST
(Qudos Bank Arena)

• Watch on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Foxtel
• Watch together at the Reef Hotel Casino (Official Away Game Watch Venue)

LAST MEETING

Last season, all three meetings between the Kings and the Taipans were determined by 10 points or less, on Sydney’s way to being crowned NBL Champions which also featured a 13-game winning streak.

Heading into tonight’s game, Sydney remains undefeated (3-0) while the Taipans (2-1) are unbeaten on the road, but suffered their first loss at home on Monday night. 

LINE-UP

Star guard Tahjere McCall has not travelled to Sydney, following MRI scans that revealed a partial tear in his right hip sustained on Monday. He is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks, with development player Josh Davey suiting up as the injury replacement player. Taipans forward Lat Mayen will finally make his NBL debut tonight after missing the first two rounds with an ankle sprain. 

LOOK FOR

A brilliant battle between Keanu Pinder, who currently leads the NBL in rebounds (9.7 per game) and Xavier Cooks, the NBL’s leading scorer (23.3 points per game) after two rounds.

Sydney starting point guard Derrick Walton Jr leads the league in assists (7.3 per game) however Taipan Shannon Scott is a very close second (7.0 per game) after three games coming off the bench. 

This game will be a reunion for new Taipan Sam Waardenburg and Dejan Vasiljevic after they were teammates together at the University of Miami from 2017 – 2020.

LATEST WORDS

“We’ve watched the film, we’ve talked about. It’s just one game this season. It was an ugly one, but that’s part of it. It’s part of being a professional, you’ve got to bounce back and move onto the next one. We’ve got to be more together as a unit, know the scout better, know the players and personnel better, and just play better together,” – DJ Hogg on Monday’s loss

“With all these tough road games, and all these tough teams – we’re getting them in early. It’s one of the best initiations in the league for all these new guys, to say, “Hey, you’re going to face the defending champs twice in their home venue within two weeks of each other, off the back of a loss against Perth, and in between that, Melbourne in Melbourne. So, you’ve got to bring your A game, you’ve got to be a professional.”

“And if we do find ourselves in a moment where we’re a little bit shell shocked, whether Sydney get on a run or a momentum swing in their favour, we can’t react the same way we did against Perth, which was – just drop everything. We’ve got to regroup and get on track with the game plan,” – Adam Forde on upcoming games

Next Taipans Home Game: Sunday 23 October, 1:00pm vs NZ Breakers - TICKETS