UPDATE: The Brisbane Bullets dominated the Cairns Taipans with a decisive 113-85 victory on Thursday night, marking a critical turning point for the team as they seek to recover from a slow start this NBL season.
In a thrilling matchup at Brisbane, Jack McVeigh made a strong return from injury, scoring 23 points and adding six assists. However, it was the Bullets’ consistent scoring that ultimately sealed the game, pushing the Taipans deeper into their struggles.
The Bullets, now sitting at 4-6, earned their first home win of the season after losing their previous three games on their own court. In stark contrast, the last-placed Taipans dropped to 2-8, suffering their seventh consecutive defeat, with five losses by over 27 points.
Both teams exchanged leads multiple times early in the game, with Cairns briefly ahead at 27-25 in the first quarter. However, a critical run by Brisbane, including a quick three-pointer from Alex Ducas, led to a 57-47 halftime lead.
Brisbane’s Tyrell Harrison was instrumental around the rim, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. His performance, along with Casey Prather‘s impressive 21 points and 10 rebounds, helped open the floodgates in the final quarter.
“We need to show more desperation,” said Taipans coach Adam Forde, expressing frustration over his team’s inability to capitalize on opportunities.
The Bullets’ fast start to the final quarter was highlighted by a steal and a runaway slam from Prather, further widening the margin. Jaylen Adams also shone with his best performance as a Bullet, adding 20 points and seven assists.
New import Dakota Mathias contributed to the scoreline with 11 points, including three three-pointers. The combined efforts of Taine Murray and Tristan Devers, who contributed 24 points and four assists, provided the necessary spark for Brisbane’s offense.
Despite the Taipans showing some early promise with Reyne Smith scoring eight points and Andrew Andrews contributing 11 points and 10 assists, they struggled to maintain momentum against a resurgent Bullets team.
Looking ahead, the Bullets will face off against their former teammate in the Sydney Kings this Saturday, while the Taipans will need to regroup quickly to end their losing streak.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as we continue to track the NBL season.
