Star import's injury mars Taipans' win over Kings

A nasty back injury to first-year import sensation Patrick Miller has marred the already undermanned Cairns Taipans' otherwise impressive 87-80 win over the Sydney Kings at Cairns Convention Centre.

Miller, who entered Saturday night's clash ranked second in the NBL in scoring and fourth in assists, had the hosts in control before an explosive drive to the bucket ended with him crashing to the floor, a minute out from half-time.

The American's head whip-lashed onto the floor before he got up gingerly and walked slowly to the bench holding his lower back, unable to continue.

It was an added blow for a Snakes team already missing two of their key playmakers Taran Armstrong and Tahjere McCall, but the home team were tremendous in setting up a 14-point lead and then holding out the Kings late.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patrick Miller has left the game for the <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cairnstaipans</a> and made his way back to the locker room after going down under the basket.<br><br>Watch live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/PQtWuHavpU">pic.twitter.com/PQtWuHavpU</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1718207168829366397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bul Kuol took Thursday's buzzer-beating loss to the the Hawks and he put the Taipans on his back playing every second of the game and finishing with 24 points, five rebounds and two assists along with playing stifling defence on NBL22 MVP Jaylen Adams.

Kiwi big man Sam Waardenburg was also tremendous with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists while exciting Swedish Next Star Bobi Klintman produced 17 points, eight boards, three assists and three steals.

"We kept moving down the bench to bring guys in," Cairns coach Adam Forde said.

"Everyone responded. I'm super happy for the group that they could fill some short-term reward with a win at home."

The win improves Cairns to 3-2 on the season while Sydney is 4-3 on the hunt of a championship three-peat and again struggled shooting. The Kings went 9-of-38 from downtown with Adams goign 1-of-8, Denzel Valentine 2-of-7, former Taipan Kouat Noi 0-of-4 and DJ Hogg 2-of-8.

Hogg was playing his first game with Sydney after starring last season with Cairns and had 13 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Noi top-scored with 18 points. Adams had 13 points and eight rebounds and Jonah Bolden 11 points and seven boards.

The two-time reigning champions were all at sea early, out-rebounded 18 to six in the opening term while missing their first 15 three-pointers.

Cairns boosted their 26-20 quarter-time buffer to 12 points shortly before Miller's night ended in stomach-churning style.

Without Miller running the point, the home side's offence suddenly looked shaky in the third term as Sydney briefly took the lead on a Hogg triple.

The undermanned Taipans responded with a 15-0 burst either side of three quarter-time, highlighted by Klintman's thunderous dunk down the middle over rival Next Star Alex Toohey.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Excuse me Bobi Klintman ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/bM0Yfiniiw">pic.twitter.com/bM0Yfiniiw</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1718218880349564952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Down by 14, Sydney closed the gap to four points before unsportsmanlike fouls against Denzel Valentine and Makuach Maluach ended their revival.

Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah gave full credit to the Taipans.

"It was the defensive mistakes that we made," he said.

"They made more plays than we did, they got to the 50/50 balls and they stuck together. Kudos to them, they deserved it."