This match pits two of the struggling sides of the season so far – the Cairns Taipans and the Sydney Kings – against each other. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday from 5:30pm AEDT.
This is the second meeting between the two sides in three days.
In their match on Thursday night, the Kings notched an important win, but not without some nervous moments. Leading by 19 points at halftime, the Kings watched their lead reduced to six points.
However, Sydney steadied and eventually ran out nine-point winners (81- 72).
Jerome Randle and Jason Cadee both scored 16 points. For the Taipans, Cameron Gliddon top scored with 20 points, while Alex Loughton chipped in with 19.
Randle leads the league for points per game, averaging 20.6. If the Kings can curb his influence, they will go a long way to grabbing the win.
The Kings are averaging 87.4 points per game, while the Taipans are averaging just 79.
Prediction
Both sides are struggling this season, but the Taipans will star this game as favourites. Cairns have won seven of their past 12 games at home, when starting as favourites but they should get the victory in this one.
Cairns by four points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match between the Cairns Taipans and the Sydney Kings at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday from 5:30pm AEDT.
Johnathan Thompson
Roar Pro
Kings dethroned as Taipans storm home to win The Cairns Taipans have secured victory over the Sydney Kings, running out 9- point victors. Sydney started strongly, with Jeremy Tyler scoring the first bucket of the game. The Kings went on an 11- 3 run, before Nnanna Egwu scored for the Taipans but the Kings took a 17- 12 lead into the fisrt break. The Taipans drew level in the second term, with a bucket from Damon Heuir, before two free throws from Cameron Gliddon gave Cairns the lead. The Kings steadied and took a 36- 35 advantage into half time. Jeremy Tyler and Jerome Randle were on fire for the Kings, as they lead 57- 51 at the end of the third quarter. Cairns took control in the final term, scoring 29 points to 14 to secure the 80- 71 victory. Evans Junior and Alex Lougthon top scored for Cairns, with 15 points each, while Randle and Tyler both scored 24 points for the Kings.
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Taipans win 80- 71
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Time out called. Taipans in control, leading 76- 66 with 1:39 left on the clock
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Garlepp out of the game
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Dayshon Smith sinks the three and the Taipans are up by 9
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Time Out. Taipans- 68 Kings- 64 with 04:44 remaining.
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Evans Jnr has 15 points for the Taipans. Cairns- 63 Sydney- 62
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Jerry Evans Jnr sinks the 3 pointer to give the Taipans a 61- 57 lead
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Final term underway in Cairns
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Randle getting some attention from medical staff at three quarter time. His Sydney Kings lead the Taipans 57- 51
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Jerome Randle slips on the ground and looks to be in a bit of pain
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Jeremy Tyler on fire this term and leads all scorers in the game, with 20 points Taipans lead 51- 50 with 2 and a half minutes remaining in the third term.
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Second half underway
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At half- time it's the Kings up 36- 35
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Jerry Evans Junior makes the 2- pointer.
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Time out called Cairns- 27 Sydney- 25 with 2 minutes left in the second
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Cameron Giddon scores with both free throws Cairns- 27 Kings 25
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Mitch McCarron sinks 1 of 2 free throws
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Mitch McCarron scores as a time out is called. Kings- 24 Taipans 23
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Damon Heuir scores to tie the game up at 19 apiece