The Cairns Taipans emerged victorious from a thrilling intrastate battle with Brisbane 88-83, but it could well prove to be their most costly success of the season.
The Snakes’ second win on the trot was overshadowed by a brutal blow in the form of what could be a very serious injury to star swingman Sam Waardenburg.
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Waardenburg, who missed the first half of the season with an ankle injury sustained in preseason, landed awkwardly on the foot of Bullet Terry Taylor after contesting Taylor’s shot attempt.
The Kayo Sports broadcast vision clearly showed Waardenburg’s ankle buckle after landing on top of Taylor’s foot, with the former club MVP left writhing in pain under the basket until the game was stopped moments later.
Waardenburg was unable to put any weight whatsoever on his left leg, with multiple training staff required to help him hobble from the court.
It was a crucial moment in the contest after Cairns raced out to an early lead, taking a 17-7 advantage midway through the first term before extending to a 28-16 margin at the first break.
The strong start came off the back of Andrew Andrews’ phenomenal playmaking as the primary ball handler, as he dished out seven dimes in just over seven minutes of first quarter action.
Waardenburg (11 points) and Kyrin Galloway (nine points) were the primary beneficiaries.
Galloway continued to put in work on the interior in the absence of the Bullets’ starting big Tyrell Harrison, who tormented the Snakes last time these two sides met in the Far North.
Threes and freebies haunt Bullets
Darryl McDonald might have his squad playing two-ball knockout this week after a horrid run from the charity stripe to start the contest.
The Bullets were shooting just barely over 50% from the line from 11 attempts early in the second term.
A free throw discrepancy of 19 to 1 in one side’s favour at halftime would typically signal positives for that team, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.
That might’ve been due partly to the fact that the failed to make a single one of their seven attempts from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of action.
But Brisbane started finding their range when they needed it most, with Tohi Smith-Milner and Alex Ducas nailing some huge treys to bring the Bullets level.
Andrews had the answers on every occasion though for the Snakes, nailing some huge threes before sinking a pair of clutch free throws to extend the lead to three late.
Mag out
While the significance of Waardenburg’s injury remains to be seen, it was the second cruel injury blow the Snakes have suffered inside 24 hours, with Mawot Mag sidelined for the rest of NBL26.
The Taipans released a statement ahead of the clash with Brisbane saying an MRI had revealed a stress fracture in Mag’s foot.
The estimated four-month recovery time puts any chance of a return this season well and truly out of the question.
Match details
Cairns Taipans 88 (McVeigh 24, Galloway 19, Andrews 18)
Brisbane Bullets 83 (Maldonado 29, Taylor 22, Smith-Milner 9)
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