Preview: NBL26 R16 Away v Cairns Taipans

The Brisbane Bullets have been outstanding in the first half of their past two games and now will look for a 40-minute effort in the third Sunshine Stoush of the season this Monday night against the Cairns Taipans.

The Bullets and Taipans will renew their rivalry as the lone two Queensland teams in the NBL when they do battle at the Cairns Convention Centre this Monday with the game set to tip-off at 4:30pm local time.

The game was originally set for Saturday, but was forced to be postponed thanks to ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji and has quickly found a new date on Monday before both teams then head to HoopsFest in Perth.

Not much separates the two teams coming into the match up either with the Taipans having improved to a 6-17 record after beating the Melbourne United in Bendigo back on Wednesday night.

Then the Bullets are now sitting on a 6-18 record and even with having lost four straight matches, and 11 of the last 12, the signs have been encouraging in recent times despite the on-going injury troubles.

It will be the third Sunshine Stoush match up so far of the season with the Taipans winning in Cairns in an 83-82 thriller back on September 26 before the Bullets back at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on October 30 for the 113-85 victory.

While the Bullets have lost their past four matches since a breakthrough win under interim coach Darryl McDonald against the New Zealand Breakers just before Christmas, the past two games especially have been encouraging.

That has seen the Bullets leading both home games against the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers at half-time before it has been the third quarters that let them down, but there is plenty there to build on.

And that's even in the continued absence of Tyrell Harrison, Javon Freeman-Liberty and now Sam McDaniel, but the good news for the trip to Cairns is the return of Tall Blacks guard Taine Murray.

That comes on the back of an impressive debut on Sunday against Adelaide by injury replacement import point guard Hunter Maldonado who had 16 points and nine assists.

The Snakes will also be back on their home floor on a high after they beat Melbourne in a 93-92 thriller in Bendigo back on Wednesday night with front court Jack McVeigh and Sam Waardenburg combining for 40 points and 18 rebounds with point guard Andrew Andrews adding 13 points and 13 assists.

Rookie Bullets big man Jacob Holt continues to be a shining light this season for the Bullets and especially over the past two games when he has had to take on an even more significant role in the absence of Harrison.

That has seen him combine for 32 points and 14 rebounds in the games against the Wildcats and 36ers, and now he will get his first chance both to visit Cairns this week and to play in a Sunshine Stoush against the Taipans.

"I'm expecting us to give our best effort and our guys play so hard, and even though we're down we are giving it our all and this is going to be a good game," Holt said.

"They're coming off a great win in Melbourne so they will be pretty hyped up after that, but I think we have a real chance and I think we can really get them."

Monday's game for the Bullets will be the team's last before HoopsFest in Perth next week which will see them in action first up on the Thursday night when taking on the Sydney Kings.

GAME INFO

Who: Brisbane Bullets vs Cairns Taipans

Tip off: 4:30pm (AEST), Monday 12 January, 2026

Where: Cairns Convention Centre

Watch: ESPN via Foxtel, Disney+, Kayo and Fetch