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The Cairns Taipans have recorded their second win of the NBL season, beating South East Melbourne Phoenix 85-76.
The nine point win sees the Snakes unbeaten in NBL23.
They were 10 points down early in the fourth quarter, but determined play saw them overtake the Phoenix, with the win ending a nine-game losing streak at John Cain Arena.
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Keanu Pinder, last season’s most improved player, started strong with a highlight reel dunk in the opening minutes, and scored his team’s first six points of the match.
He finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. DJ Hogg posted 18 points for the Taipans.
There were plenty of turnovers, notably from Tahjere McCall, but he chimed in with 15 crucial points at times when the Phoenix might have pulled away.
Shannon Scott scored 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Majok Deng got five points and three rebounds, while Bul Kuol made five points, three boards and three steals.
Taipans head coach, Adam Forde, said it wasn’t pretty, but it was a win.
"We're going to have games like tonight where the floodlights don't open up, and we go ‘hey, that was a struggle’.
"We've got rookies on this team that were trying to find their way, we've got veterans on their team that were trying to find their way.
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"Just to be able to get these wins, as ugly and weird as it is. There was a moment with a timeout with eight minutes and you're down 10.
“Plenty of time left. I want attacking turnovers because we're still applying that pressure.”
The Taipans head straight home for their first Cairns game of the season at the Convention Centre on Monday against the Perth Wildcats.
Main points
- Taipans beat Phoenix 85-76
- End of a nine-game losing streak at John Cain Arena
- Snakes at home to Perth Wildcats Monday 630pm
