NBL champion Jack McVeigh has scored a career-best 47 factors to steer Cairns to an epic four-point win over New Zealand Breakers just some days after changing into a father.
The 29-year-old now has the second most factors in a recreation by a Taipan behind Martin Cattalini, who shot 51 again in 2006.
McVeigh, who additionally had eight rebounds and three assists within the 99-95 win on the Cairns Conference Centre on Friday evening, goes into second place behind Bryce Cotton for essentially the most factors in a recreation this season.
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“Shoutout out to the newborn at residence, it’s been a enjoyable week,” McVeigh mentioned post-game.
“That was cool to return on the market and get that win.”
Taipans massive Sam Waardenburg was additionally necessary to the Taipans’ fifth win of the season with 16 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his second outing of the marketing campaign.
Rob Baker narrowed the margin to 2 with 12 seconds to play after a Parker Jackson-Cartwright steal, however a clutch McVeigh on the different finish continued his good capturing from the free throw line to nail two from two and make it the victorious 99-95 scoreline.
The second win in three video games for the Taipans now lifts them equal on 5 wins with Brisbane and a step nearer to leaping off the underside of the desk.
The end result additionally introduced concerning the Taipans’ highest scoring of the season, beating their earlier better of 96 additionally in opposition to the Breakers again on November 14.
Breakers ahead Sam Mennenga was finest for the guests with 24 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient as they fall to a 7-12 file and stay in seventh place.
Breakers star guard Jackson-Cartwright had 12 factors and 11 assists in one other promising outing for the Ignite Cup leaders.
Taipans guard Mojave King returned from a glute pressure and had seven factors, two rebounds and two assists from 26 minutes.
Breakers ahead Carlin Davison landed an important three halfway by way of the third quarter to place his aspect 61-59 forward on an evening the place he completed with 10 factors and three rebounds.
“This isn’t remedy, my workforce is ok” | 00:48
JACKED MCVEIGH
Marquee man McVeigh was on hearth within the first half with an electrical 26 factors together with a trio of threes to steer the Taipans to a five-point benefit.
McVeigh levelled the rating line early within the second quarter after which adopted it up with a lay as much as give the Taipans their first lead of the sport.
Then he nailed his third three of the sport with three seconds to go within the first half to life his aspect to a 48-43 lead at half time after they have been down 9-16 earlier within the first quarter.
The 2024 NBL Grand Last MVP shot 11/12 along with his solely miss a half-court shot which wouldn’t have counted if it was an NBA-ruled recreation.
McVeigh, who additionally grew to become a brand new dad lately, lastly made his first miss exterior the half court docket shot with 2min 45sec left within the third quarter.
Even when he was on 4 fouls early within the final quarter, an unfazed McVeigh went on to nail back-to-back threes to place his aspect 83-77 forward.
McVeigh completed his starring evening with six threes capturing 6/8 from deep. And he was 16/21 total for his 47 factors.
HOME WIN
Taipans followers have had little to rejoice watching on at residence this season, however they have been lastly handled to some epic basketball.
The Taipans improved their residence file to 2-9 with the win.
A McVeigh move for Marcus Lee to dunk halfway within the fourth gave the loyal supporters a lot to cheer about.
Heading into the sport, the Breakers had received their previous six on the Cairns Conference Centre and have been on a seven-game win streak over the Taipans.
POLAR OPPOSITE
The Taipans scored the primary 13 factors in opposition to Tasmania of their final recreation, however began with conceding an 0-5 run in opposition to the Breakers.
In the meantime, the Breakers went 8/9 capturing from the sector within the first six minutes to assist spark a 23-19 lead after the primary quarter. It compares higher to the 26-20 deficit that they had on the first break of their final recreation in opposition to South East Melbourne.
Cairns Taipans 99 (McVeigh 47, Waardenburg 16, Lee 15)New Zealand Breakers 95 (Mennenga 24, Brockington 17, Jackson-Cartwright 12)
At Cairns Conference Centre