Taipans stun United

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans have recorded the highest score by any team this 2023-24 NBL season, defeating the top-of-the-table Melbourne United 115-103 and causing a huge upset on Sunday afternoon. Cairns' 115 points is also the highest score any team has scored against Melbourne at John Cain Arena – ever.

Pre-game Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde declared he'd “put his money where his mouth is” and rewarded Josh Roberts and Jonah Antonio for their Friday efforts by elevating them to the starting five, and the risk paid off quickly as the team got back on the winner’s list and set a new all-time franchise high of 62.5% field goal percentage in the process.

Point guard Patrick Miller on the way to his own hisstory-making performance drew first blood, before Antonio and Tahjere McCall were both accurate from range, and the Taipans had an 8-0 lead to start the game, forcing United to call an early-timeout.

Taipans extended their lead to double digits within five minutes, as Roberts continued his strong performance from Friday, blocking a Lual-Acuil shot before dominating under the bucket and drawing the and-one.

Guarded by Chris Goulding, Taran Armstrong off the bench flew by Ariel Hukpori for a layup before hitting a jump shot seconds later, giving the Taipans a 12-point lead at quarter-time.

Bobi Klintman joined the party after the break, hitting two threes and Antonio also added to his triple tally. Less than three minutes into the second term, Cairns had doubled Melbourne’s scored 42-21.

Lat Mayen had instant impact off the bench, hitting a jumper before Roberts found him inside for another bucket.

There were only two minutes left in the half before Miller missed his first shot of the game, getting fouled by Hukporti but made up for it at the charity stripe – before closing the half with another pull up jumper.

Miller had the game-high 21 points at the half at 8-of-9 shooting plus six assists, while Roberts had 11 points on 5-of-5 from the field.

Cairns’ 67 points was the highest halftime score for any NBL team this season, their second highest in franchise history while also being the most points Dean Vickerman’s Melbourne United have ever conceded in a first half. 

Bul Kuol was busy doing his usual defensive best and didn’t score until the third quarter, but he and Sam Waardenburg both found themselves in foul trouble and limited court time, as Armstrong enjoyed the most minutes he’s played so far this season.

He added to Cairns’ three-point percentage in their best shooting effort this year, scoring nine points by the third break.

Taipans’ scoring had to seize at some point and dried up in the final term, only managing 10 points in the first five minutes as United took advantage and turned up the defensive pressure, with Luke Travers on an aggressive assignment.   

Cairns were sent to the line six times in the last 90 seconds, scoring 10 points at the charity stripe to close out a hiss-tory making win – the highest score by any team at John Cain Arena, and the most points scored against Dean Vickerman in his NBL career, in a non-overtime game.

Pat Miller barely missed for 32 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals, shooting at 75 per cent and making hisstory as the first Cairns player to record 30 and 10 on a Taipans road trip.

Roberts finished with 22 points (10-of-11 FG) Tahjere McCall 23 points and Taran Armstrong impressive off the bench with 10, 2 and 2. 

Post-game, Coach Forde was pragmatic and acknowledged that while the win was important - consistency remains a concern following a disappointing and unexpected loss on Friday to Brisbane.

"We’re not at a level where it’s about wins and losses. We’re trying to address real team issues that we need to correct and fix. One of them is consistency. We did this a couple of weeks ago. We lose to Illawarra, then we come back and beat Sydney. 

"Don’t get me wrong – great to get a road win, great to get back in the winner’s circle and all that. But if we put our feet up, and decide all those issues are fixed? We’re kidding ourselves. This just ticks a box in the sense of the progression we want to go in. To act like we’ve made some massive strides in 36 hours? No. "

BOX SCORE