Preview: Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers

GAME DETAILS 

Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers 

9.30pm NZDT 14 February @ Cairns Convention Centre 

Watch LIVE on Sky Sport 1 

THE STATS 

Round 11 of the NBL has so far been the closest this season with 6 games completed at the average winning margin of 5.8 points per game.  The half time differences this weekend have been 4, 2, 3, 5, 2 & 4. 

All time meetings: 72 matches, Taipans won 36 Breakers won 36  

Five of the last six games played between these teams have been decided by 6-points or less.  

Cairns are 2-2 at home with wins over Tasmania and Adelaide and losses to Perth and Illawarra. 

New Zealand have won twice on the ‘road’ with wins at Sydney and Brisbane and also beaten Hawks in Hobart.  

The Taipans have won just one of their past five games while New Zealand have won two of their last five.  

This is the first round of the season that the Taipans have played two games so the one-day break between games in a unknown challenge for them. They do have some games to make up on the rest of the competition so they will have doubles in round 12, 13 and 15.   

Cairns played their first 7 games of this season over 68 days but the next 7 game block that started on Saturday are to be played over 22 days.   

The Taipans last two first halves have been strong with 53 points in Brisbane and 49 at Wollongong. 

In the first half on Saturday, Cairns shot 17/34FG at 50%. In the second half it was 8/36 at 22%. Together at 25/70 at 35.7% was their lowest of the season. 

FUN FACT
This is the second time the Taipans have played at home on Valentine's Day.