Round 4: Taipans v Breakers

CQUniversity Cairns Taipans v New Zealand Breakers
(Cairns Convention Centre)

• Watch live on ESPN via Kayo Sports or Foxtel
• Head to official post-game party at the Reef Hotel Casino

LAST MEETING

It’s hard to forget the last two meetings between these two teams. The New Zealand Breakers (due to COVID) were playing “home games” at the Cairns Convention Centre.

In Round 17 they lost a heartbreaker against the Bullets in overtime and then three days later, faced the Taipans and lost by three points. 

LINE-UP

Tahjere McCall has not travelled for any road games as he recovers from his hip injury, so his presence won’t be missed at today’s home game. Rookie Lat Mayen is still hit the court for the first time – could he make his debut in front of the Orange Army?

LOOK FOR

Another double-double for the man of the moment. Keanu Pinder has had three straight double-doubles for the first time in his career, which includes setting a new career-high 26 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile Mirko Djeric has not scored at all this season but came off the bench for 11 points on Thursday on 3/3 FG and 3/3 FT’s. In an injury-interrupted campaign last year, Djeric did not score double figure points in any game. 

LATEST WORDS

"He is All-First team…he’s the best five man in the league. He’s leading the league in rebounds, ninth in scoring [before the game.] He leads bigs in all categories when it comes to assists and efficiency. People asked, ‘Why did we get him in from Adelaide?” and it’s because what he was good at, even at a small sample size, was super efficient. All we’ve done is expanded that and given him more opportunities, put him in an environment where he can blossom and grow without the negativity around him,” Adam Forde on Keanu Pinder

"So far we are doing pretty well on the road and now we've got one at home on Sunday. We have to put a show on for our fans there, and give them something to come to our games for,” DJ Hogg on the next home game