The Cairns Taipans play their first home game of the NBL27 season on Wednesday night when they welcome the Tasmania JackJumpers to the Cairns Convention Centre to kick off Round 2 of the season.
Cairns opened their campaign with a 111-90 defeat against the defending champions, the Sydney Kings, on Sunday, but there were still some encouraging signs from Adam Forde's new-look roster. Keanu Pinder was outstanding in his return to the Taipans with 27 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Malique Lewis added 13 points and five rebounds and Jaylon Brown finished with 11 points and six assists.
Tasmania arrive in Cairns on the shortest possible turnaround after opening their season on Monday night with a dramatic 96-91 victory over South East Melbourne. The JackJumpers trailed by as many as 16 points before exploding for 36 points in the third quarter and ultimately outscoring the Phoenix 58-39 in the second half.
Can the JackJumpers handle the short turnaround or is this a chance for the Taipans to get on the board in their NBL27 campaign?
Check out our Taipans vs JackJumpers preview below and head to our NBL tips page for tips for every match this season!
Taipans vs JackJumpers Prediction and Betting Tips: NBL27 Round 2
Wednesday, September 23, 7:30pm AEST
Cairns Convention Centre
Taipans need to find some bite
The final margin against Sydney was disappointing, but Cairns weren't completely outclassed in their first competitive hit-out with a significantly changed roster.
Pinder was comfortably their standout. He shot 11-of-17 from the field on his way to 27 points and immediately looked capable of becoming one of the focal points of the Taipans offence this season. Jonah Bolden also collected 13 rebounds off the bench, while Lewis made an encouraging start for his new club.
The bigger concern was at the defensive end. Sydney shot 54.9 per cent from the field and piled on 111 points, so Forde will want a considerably better defensive performance in Cairns' home opener.
There is also room for improvement from some of their established weapons. Jack McVeigh was restricted to just seven points against Sydney which is well below the output expected from one of the league's marquee players. He'll be looking to bounce back hard against his old team. Reyne Smith was also limited to just five points against Sydney, so if Cairns can get more production from those two alongside another strong performance from Pinder, there is clearly more upside in this offence.
The Taipans remain without Jaylin Galloway following shoulder surgery, while Luke Paul is targeting a Round 3 return from his ankle injury.
Early jump from the Jackies
The JackJumpers' opening performance was almost the complete opposite to the Taipans.
Scott Roth's team looked in serious trouble when South East Melbourne established a 16-point advantage. They looked rusty and struggling to gel as a unit, but the JackJumpers produced the sort of gritty response that has become a trademark of the club.
David Johnson led the comeback with 26 points, six rebounds and six assists on 10-of-15 shooting. New recruit Taran Armstrong contributed 19 points and did well to break the shackles of some close attention, while Will Magnay and Dakota Mathias scored 14 apiece in some good minutes.
The JackJumpers scored 36 points on 14-of-19 shooting in the third quarter alone to erase the deficit before eventually winning 96-91. That second-half performance was impressive, particularly given Tasmania were without Josh Bannan, Ben Ayre, Anthony Drmic and Bryce Hamilton. They will also be without Majok Deng in Cairns after suffering a lower leg injury on Monday.
The talking point from the match was the dramatic finish where the new disruptive play rule caused confusion when Skylar Mays incorrectly took the free throws, causing a turnover at a crucial stage of the match. Regardless, the JackJumpers were toughest when it matters as fatigue got hold of the Phoenix late.
That will also be the concern for the JackJumpers as they have a quick turnround to head north, with several players still missing from their best lineup through injury.
Form, Fatigue and Fitness - Our Taipans vs JackJumpers Match Prediction
This is an interesting early-season matchup because the first-round results could potentially push the market towards Tasmania.
Cairns, however, return home with a considerable rest and travel advantage and they'll be looking to push the tempo to test the fitness of their opposition. Pinder will cause plenty of problems, while McVeigh is unlikely to have two bad games in a row.
The JackJumpers have already shown plenty of resilience and their second-half performance against the Phoenix was impressive. Johnson and Armstrong give them two dangerous offensive options, while Magnay remains a significant presence around the basket. They will be carrying a hefty load with the depth of their squad really being tested early in the season, however they are a squad with a true "next man up" mentality.
It felt like the JackJumpers found a bit of a groove in the second half, and if they bring that form then they should make it 2 from 2 to start the NBL27 season.
Tasmania JackJumpers -2.5
$1.92 (2 Units)
Taipans vs JackJumpers Dabble Pick‘Em
We’ve put together a 3-Leg Dabble Pick’Em for the Taipans vs JackJumpers clash that you can follow via the link below! You can also learn more about Dabble’s Pick’Em feature here.
Will Magnay - Over 6.5 rebounds
Taran Armstrong - Over 18.5 points
Keanu Pinder - Over 16.5 points
Dabble Pick‘Em Odds Multiplier: 6.5x ($10 to win $65) - Click here to get involved!
Taipans vs JackJumpers Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Wednesday, September 23
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Location: Cairns Convention Centre
Odds: Taipans ($2.15) vs JackJumpers ($1.72)
Line: JackJumpers -2.5
Points: 185.5
Where to Watch Taipans vs JackJumpers
You can watch the Taipans vs JackJumpers live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
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