Taipans gear up for season with home win over Sixers

The pre-season of the long-awaited 2021 NBL season has officially concluded with the Cairns Taipans warming up for Round 1 with a 96-88 win at home over the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night.

The NBL will now officially tip off this coming Friday night and the longest pre-season imaginable officially came to an end at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena on Saturday evening with the Snakes getting a strong win against the Sixers.

Neither team was quite at full strength with the Taipans missing regular starter Majok Deng while the 36ers were without three key players with centre Isaac Humphries, import Tony Crocker and versatile guard Sunday Dech not suiting up.

That didn’t detract from the contest, though, with both clubs looking to make the most of a final hit out against real opposition before the season proper gets underway next weekend with both able to host home matches.

It was a tight contest through three quarters as well but the Taipans had more depth and were closer to full strength, and as a result were able to pull away during the fourth quarter.

A three-point bomb from Daniel Johnson to start the fourth period regained a lead for the 36ers, but a turnaround jumper soon after from Cam Oliver put Cairns back on top and the home side never looked back from there.

Scott Machado stepped up as well for a big three, George Blagojevich used a shot fake to get to the basket and finish before Oliver hit from deep to make it a six-point lead. Oliver made it seven when he hit again from beyond the arc and from there the Snakes went on to score the eight-point win.

There was plenty to like for the Taipans as Mike Kelly's men look to keep up the momentum they finished last season with ending up just one win short of reaching the Grand Final.

Import pair Cam Oliver and Scott Machado were significant reasons for that success, and both looked good in the final pre-season game. Oliver delivered 21 points and 11 rebounds with Machado adding 15 points and eight assists.

Kouat Noi is ready to take the NBL by storm this season highlighted by his 22 points and seven rebounds on 7/11 shooting including going 5/8 from downtown. Combine that with his athleticism and his ability to finish at the rim, and he's quite a handful.

Mirko Djeric added nine points and four rebounds for the Taipans, Nate Jawai nine points and five boards, and Fabijan Krslovic seven points.

Considering the Sixers were minus three of their more important players Tony Crocker, Isaac Humphries and Sunday Dech, and they will take plenty out of their last pre-season hit out before heading home.

Import Donald Sloan was exciting and showed why he was able to become an NBA regular at a time by delivering 24 points and four rebounds including hitting 3/6 from three-point territory.

His backcourt partner Josh Giddey showed more tremendous signs as the Next Star produced 13 points and seven rebounds with Daniel Johnson ending up with 19 points and 10 boards.

Jack McVeigh added 10 points and four rebounds for Adelaide, and Brendan Teys six points and two steals.

Both teams now prepare to play at home in Round 1 of the 2021 NBL season with the Taipans hosting the Sydney Kings on Saturday and The Hawks on Monday evening. The 36ers will be at home to Melbourne United on Friday and South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.

NBL PRE-SEASON

CAIRNS TAIPANS 96 (Noi 22, Oliver 21, Machado 15)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 88 (Sloan 24, Johnson 19, Giddey 13)

BOX SCORE