Taipans fall to Wizards in NBLxNBA opener

The Cairns Taipans have endured a difficult start to their maiden NBLxNBA tour, suffering a 82-145 defeat at the hands of Xavier Cooks’ Washington Wizards.

Both Sam Waardenburg and Sam Mennenga were ruled out of the game prior to tip-off due to illness, which left AK Gak and Josh Roberts as the only recognised bigs to take on a rotation including Cooks, Daniel Gafford, Danilo Gallinari and NBA champion Kyle Kuzma.

Cairns started nervously and allowed the Wizards to open up a 15-0 margin early in the game, a run in which Washington connected on their first five shots of the game, but Roberts settled fastest for the Taipans as they worked themselves into the game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Armstrong to Gak for the BIG slam ?<br>Taran now has FIVE assists!<br><br>? <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cairnstaipans</a> | ? <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> <a href="https://t.co/AluK5pS1GY">pic.twitter.com/AluK5pS1GY</a></p>&mdash; Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans/status/1711896693246144647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Draft eligible Taran Armstrong starred in the defeat for the Taipans, in what was his first game since the Hungry Jack's NBL Blitz due to a string of injuries.

Armstrong ended the clash with a game-high eight assists – with a wraparound pass to Bobi Klintman in the opening term standing out in what was an impressive individual showing.

Cairns has a chance to rectify for the difficult performance on Monday when they face off against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, October 11.

CAIRNS 82
Best: Gak (17pts, 9reb), Miller (15pts, 4reb), Armstrong (6pts, 8ast, 3stl)

WASHINGTON 145
Best: Kuzma (22pts, 4reb), Gafford (15pts, 8reb), Omoruyi (16pts)

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