The NZ Breakers beat the Cairns Taipans 82-71

##MP##

The Cairns Taipans were beaten at home by the NZ Breakers on Friday night, with the visitors defending well to win 82-71.

The Taipans started well, forcing 10 NZ turnovers to take a double figure lead early in the second quarter.

But the game shifted to the Breakers as they took better care of the ball, restricting the Taipans to just nine points in the second term.

NZ opened up an 11-point lead late in the third period, but the Snakes kept at them and got to within one point midway through the fourth quarter.

##BA##

But the Breakers scored the next 10 points to secure the win.

Rookie Sam Waardenburg top-scored for the Taipans for the first time with 15 points, while Keanu Pinder got 14 points, and Tahjere McCall made 13.

Taipans coach, Adam Forde, said the Breakers had the measure of the home side.

##PQ##

"New Zealand, for the second time now, did a great job of slowing us down.

“We had no points in the paint, really, and it's got to be pretty low in terms of transition points for us.

“In the first quarter, we got some stops and got some momentum, and we generated something like half a dozen steals.

“Then we didn’t really score anything other than the three foul shots at the end of the half.

Taipans forward, Bul Kuol, said his side started well but didn’t follow through in the second half.

“Defensively, we did good in the first half, but I think we need to do a better job, especially in the second half where we just went one-on-one.

“They are a tough physical team. They're just a team that aren’t going to beat themselves.

“I think we match up well against them, but we just never got going offensively."

sport

Main points

  • NZ Breakers beat the Taipans 82-71
  • Strong NZ defence restricted Cairns scoring
  • Taipans at home to Kings on Monday
Credit to New Zealand, that's a tough defensive team.
Adam Forde
Taipans coach