ANOTHER week has flown by and just like that, the latest round of the 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season has arrived, continuing a tight race for a finals spot.

Round 3 delivered plenty of entertainment and certainly gave the standings a shake up with some upsets and close finishes across the courts. If the fourth round of the fixture can deliver the same level of unpredictability, the landscape of the NBL will be changed even further.

Kicking of proceedings will be a clash between the Cairns Taipans and the Perth Wildcats tonight, with the teams bringing in very different form to the match.

Cairns Taipans vs. Perth Wildcats

Cairns Convention Centre
Thursday, October 10 @7:30pm

Last week

Round 3 saw the Taipans continue their improvement over the past couple of weeks, culminating in a pair of statement victories that saw Cairns storm up the standings to sit with a record of three wins and one loss after four games. They defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday night at home before travelling to John Cain Arena, where they bested Melbourne United. Now with their team fully healthy and Adam Forde in career-best form, the Taipans are proving hard to stop.

The story is quite different for the Wildcats, who have spiralled down the ladder with just one win next to their name. Perth emerged victorious in its opening clash at HoopsFest in its home town, but has not secured another win since. The Wildcats were thumped by United at RAC Arena and blew a 14-point lead to the JackJumpers in Tasmania. To say tonight’s clash against the Taipans is crucial would be an understatement.

Players to watch

One player that has proven a spark for the Taipans since returning from injury has been Taran Armstrong, who was vital to the team’s success in Round 3, particularly against the JackJumpers where he posted 20 points, four rebounds and five assists. He is masterful at orchestrating the team’s offence and makes life a lot easier for his teammates with ball in hand, so if he can fire for the Taipans tonight, it will make them much more likely to register a winning score.

Although he is a four-time MVP, superstar point guard Bryce Cotton has been reasonably well held of late by his lofty standards. He finds himself consistently suffocated by opposing defenders in each game, and is forced to work much harder for open looks. The Taipans will undoubtedly put plenty of attention into slowing down his production, but if he can get back to his best, it will be a massive boost for a Perth side looking to cause an upset.