McVeigh Lifts Taipans to Nail-Biting Home Opener Win

Jack McVeigh announced himself to Cairns in style, hitting the clutch three-pointer that sealed a dramatic 83–82 Taipans victory over the Brisbane Bullets in their NBL26 home opener on Friday night.

In front of a loud Cairns Convention Centre crowd, the Taipans looked set for a comfortable win when they led by 12 points midway through the final quarter. But Brisbane refused to fold, storming back to snatch the lead with less than two minutes left. That’s when McVeigh, the marquee recruit on a $2 million contract, rose to the moment. His trademark triple swung momentum back to the Snakes and set up a tense finish that went down to the final possession.

The game wasn’t without controversy. With Brisbane trailing by a point in the dying seconds, Jaylen Adams barrelled into McVeigh while the Taipans star was sitting on the ball. Instead of a foul, the officials called a jump ball, and with the possession arrow favouring Brisbane, the Bullets gained the chance to win it. Javon Freeman-Liberty drove hard to the rim and looked set to score, only to be blocked while rolling his ankle in the process. He recovered quickly enough to put up a floater on the next play, but the shot rimmed out as the buzzer sounded, leaving Cairns relieved victors.

McVeigh was immense throughout, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. His late three was the signature moment, but his steady leadership proved just as important as Cairns avoided a second straight loss after their heavy defeat to South East Melbourne last week. Admiral Schofield was equally pivotal, also scoring 19 points, while Marcus Lee added 12 before fouling out in the fourth quarter. His absence left the Snakes vulnerable inside, but they dug deep defensively to hold out Brisbane’s big men.

The Bullets will rue their missed opportunities. Tyrell Harrison dominated the paint with 22 points and seven rebounds on 9-of-11 shooting, Freeman-Liberty tallied 21 points, seven boards, and five assists, and Casey Prather added 18 points in another consistent display. Adams finished with 12 points and six assists, but Brisbane’s perimeter shooting deserted them. They connected on just two of their 19 attempts from deep, leaving crucial points on the floor.

Worse still, the Bullets lost defensive stopper Sam McDaniel to an ankle injury early, adding to the absence of captain Mitch Norton. Even so, they nearly stole the win, their final-quarter charge exposing Cairns’ shaky execution under pressure.

New Taipans import Andrew Andrews endured a rough introduction, missing his first eight shots. But he found his touch just in time, draining a three-pointer late in the third quarter that reignited his confidence. Another triple early in the fourth helped Cairns build their 12-point buffer before Brisbane’s fightback. Andrews finished with eight points and four assists in 27 minutes, a performance that showed glimpses of his potential once he settles.

Cairns’ resilience will please coach Adam Forde, especially after last week’s blowout loss. With McVeigh already stamping himself as their leader and Schofield providing reliable scoring, the Taipans showed enough grit to suggest they will be competitive once they’re at full strength.

Both sides now head on the road for their next outings. Brisbane face Bryce Cotton and the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, while Cairns travel south to meet the Sydney Kings, where Kendric Davis and Matthew Dellavedova await in their season opener.

Final score: Cairns Taipans 83 defeated Brisbane Bullets 82.