New Zealand Breakers (8th) v Cairns Taipans (9th)
Thursday, February 19, 5.30pm AEDT
Spark Arena
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Talking points
Eye on the prize
It may be difficult for the New Zealand Breakers to have total concentration on Thursday night with their biggest game coming three days later on the Gold Coast.
Their season is essentially over as they cannot make the top six, but that doesn’t mean they cant finish things on a high and win the inaugural Ignite Cup Final on Sunday to take home a share of $300,000.
McVeigh’s cherry on top
It’s been a difficult season for the Cairns Taipans as they have battled through injuries to key pieces since the pre-season.
However, through those rough moments, they have still found plenty of reasons to enjoy what they have seen and the major reason for that has been Jack McVeigh.
The marquee man has been nothing short of sensational for the Taipans this year and at times played a lone hand in trying to keep them competitive. With the star locked in to return next season, does he have one last special performance to finish the season with in his bag of tricks?
What they’re saying
Breakers president of basketball operations Dillon Boucher on the return of Sam Mennenga and Karim Lopez:
“It is fantastic to have Sam and Karim back on the floor.
“They have worked incredibly hard in rehab and given our medical team confidence in a return to play.
“They have got through a full week of training and medical testing, and we look forward to them both suiting up tomorrow [Friday].”
Taipans coach Adam Forde on the club re-signing Jack McVeigh:
“Massive [news] for the club with Jack McVeigh re-signing.
“When you scale in comparison to last season’s timeline, the big domino to fall (with McVeigh signing) was late July.
“To have that piece signed in February this season, it’s great for multiple reasons. Having a marquee level player like Jack return, with the season that we had, it’s huge for the club and the community.
“It’s important to construct the right pieces around Jack. We can go to market early and aggressively on the local contingent.
“When we have arguably one of the best players in the league and he’s a four man. We can build around that.”
Missing in action
New Zealand
Izayah Le’Afa – Foot – Season
Rob Baker II – Knee – Season
Izaiah Brockington – Hip – TBC
Tai Webster – Calf – Test
Cairns
Alex Higgins-Titsha – Wrist – Season
Sam Waardenburg – Ankle – Round 22
>> View full injury list
