Cairns Taipans vs Brisbane Bullets: Bullets win despite game being abandoned

Match Results:

A power outage with just one and a half minutes to go in the final quarter at the Cairns Convention Centre has seen the Brisbane Bullets take an eight point victory over the Cairns Taipans under FIBA rules.

It was a back and forth game, but in the end the Bullets just had enough in closing out each quarter, and then holding their lead down the stretch.

Daniel Kickert was their best, scoring 12 points at 100 per cent shooting from the bench, while Adam Gibson and Torrey Craig were both strong and full of energy.

The Taipans looked good early in the contest, but just couldn’t hold it together, dropping off in energy and struggling with ball security down the stretch. Still some positives for the hosts though, with Fuquan Edwin playing a strong role.

Final Score
Cairns Taipans 76
Brisbane Bullets 84

Match Preview:

The Cairs Taipans will be looking to extend their run of good form and move further up the ladder when they host the inconsistent Brisbane Bullets on Sunday Afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEDT).

After a slow start to the season that saw them lose their first three games, the Taipans have turned things around at a rate of knots and are one of the league’s in-form teams at the moment.

While the league is changing week in and week out, with teams falling in and out of form on a regular basis, the last few weeks for the Taipans, which have seen them finally spend a little bit of time on their home court, have been a success.

In their last five matches, they have managed to win four and only lost the one which was on the buzzer away from home against the league-leading Sydney Kings, while their last win came on Friday in Auckland against the New Zealand Breakers.

Without Travis Trice for most of that run, it’s been even more impressive with their big inside presence – led by Nate Jawai standing up and Jarrad Weeks along with Cameron Gliddon providing plenty in the guard spots.

An argument could easily be made that Gliddon has been one of the form players in the league during recent weeks, and there is no reason why he won’t continue that against a Brisbane side who’s guards have struggled big time.

Brisbane have been playing what can only be described as well below their potential in the last few weeks. They have been up and down all season and currently with with a four and four record from their eight games, just outside the top four.

Despite their inconsistency and struggles in the guard rotation of Adam Gibson, Jermaine Beal and Torrey Craig, as well as those on offence they managed to find the ignition button on Thursday when they hosted the Sydney Kings, picking up a 13 point win.

Whether that sort of victory against the league leaders can spark them into a proper run of form remains to be seen, but their struggles to score points – and not for whole games has been their biggest flaw.

Cameron Bairstow will remain one of the key players for the Bullets, providing the link between the guards and their inside men – namely Daniel Kickert and Tom Jervis.

He was cold as ice last week against the Breakers, but recovered against the Kings and will need a similarly big performance against the Taipans here.

Prediction
At home where they are just so strong, with Trice expected to be back on the court and coming off a strong win in Auckland it’s tough to tip against Cairns.

Taipans by 10.

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