Taipans import goes from ‘filthy game’ to match-winner in stunning blitz
The Cairns Taipans have ended a two-match NBL losing streak, pulling off a brilliant comeback from nine points down in the final quarter against Melbourne United.
Cairns finished 107-95 winners at John Cain Arena in Melbourne which means United only has one win from four matches.
Joe Ingles chats with Jaylon Brown. Getty Images
Taipans star Jaylon Brown was the inspiration behind a final quarter surge, scoring 14 points to make it 20 for the match after a poor start.
“I’m just trying to find my rhythm, in the first half I was missing more (shots) and I just thought I’ve got to stay confident and shoot my shots,” he said on Nine’s coverage.
“My teammates kept picking me up and making me feel better about myself and I just felt good in the second half, made a couple of turnovers, sat out and rested my mind and came back in and tried to make some plays, and we won.”
Cairns finished the first quarter with an 18-14 lead before Melbourne won the next two quarters to go into the final 10 minutes in front.
Despite his final quarter heroics, Brown had some moment of regret, notably when he gave up an easy intercept to Luke Travers who jogged away and landed two points.
“Oh, Jaylon Brown is having an absolutely filthy game,” Damon Lowery said on commentary.
“I’m looking down there at Jaylon Brown, that man needs a hug.”
The fortune began to turn in Cairns’ favour in the third quarter and at one stage they were four points behind.
They may have received a stroke of luck too with five minutes left in the quarter when Melbourne’s Kyle Bowen was judged to have fouled Reyne Smith when he attempted a block.
“That is pressed against the glass, that’s clean,” Derek Rucker said.
“Kyle Bowen with great timing, maybe the slightest bit of contact, but that’s not worthy of that whistle.”
Smith could only convert one of his two free throws, which made it his first miss of the season.
That miss put United back into action as their lead extended.
However, Brown showed his quality to make up for previous errors and fire up the Taipans in the final quarter with the win now putting them in seventh and relegating Melbourne to eighth.
Cole Anthony of United dribbles down court under pressure from Jaylon Brown. Getty Images
“This is a famous victory ... the Cairns Taipans have won it here by twelve off the back of a 35-point final quarter, the equal best we’ve seen in the competition this season,” caller John Casey said.
Earlier before the United and Taipans clash, the Tasmania JackJumpers defeated the Brisbane Bullets 109-99 in an overtime thriller.
The score was locked at 91-91 by the end of regulation time after Tassie scored 18 points in the final quarter.
That momentum continued into overtime, with a final-minute eight-point blitz putting the JackJumpers out of reach for the Bullets.
Will Magnay finished the match with a three-point bucket to take his tally of points to 22. Taran Armstrong claimed 29 points from his match.
