The Cairns Taipans have survived an almighty scare to defeat the Tasmania JackJumpers 93-87 at the Cairns Convention Centre.
But their win didn't come without controversy after a late clear foul wasn't awarded to the visitors, cruelling their chances of claiming victory.
In their first home game of the NBL season on Wednesday, the Taipans were desperate to shake off Sunday's horror loss to reigning champions the Sydney Kings.
Fancy shooting from the Taipans early, going 6/7 from the field â¨
â NBL (@NBL) September 23, 2026
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They looked on track to do so, as the Snakes opened up a 20-point advantage early in the second term.
But the JackJumpers flicked a switch to trail by just one point at halftime, leaving Cairns players and their raucous supporters stunned.
In a tense third quarter, Keanu Pinder drilled a triple on the buzzer, and it proved crucial as point guard Jaylon Brown and forward Kyrin Galloway helped the home team go on a stirring 14-3 run.
Just as the visitors looked set to bow out, Tasmania rallied to close the gap to four points with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Guard Dakota Mathias went to sink a three to reduce the deficit once again, and although Pinder interfered with him, the referees opted not to give a foul, and Cairns held on for the win.
"The angle I had, I didn't see it until the ball left his hand ⌠I don't know if he jumped into him and created the foul," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.
"There (were) a couple of bodies in that corner that I couldn't see, so I really can't speak on that."
While victory gets the season up and running for the Taipans (1-1), it will be extra sweet for the home side as Tasmania recruit Taran Armstrong played his first game since leaving Cairns at the end of the 2024/25 season.
On Wednesday, Armstrong was fired up in front of his former club and produced 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Taran let him know đŁď¸
â NBL (@NBL) September 23, 2026
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Tasmania (1-1) were looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season, and although the result didn't fall their way, guard David Johnson (18 points, seven boards) and centre Will Magnay (17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) were prolific.
Brown top-scored for Cairns (20 points), while Galloway (19 points) and former JackJumper Jack McVeigh (17 points, four rebounds) also excelled.
"To get that first one, you sort of get the hoodoo, voodoo, whatever you want to call it, out of the way," Cairns coach Adam Forde said.
"Now we can just back ourselves and play."
