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Round 3 of the NBL26 Season kicks off Thursday night with the Cairns Taipans hosting the Adelaide 36ers at the Cairns Convention Centre.
The Taipans were one of the surprise stories of Round 2, edging Brisbane 83-82 at home before knocking off the Sydney Kings 77-74 on Sunday, thanks to a huge game from star recruit Jack McVeigh who finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Adelaide come into this clash led by Bryce Cotton, who is fresh off a monster 39-point performance in their 87-80 win over Brisbane. New recruit Zylan Cheatham was also dominant on the glass, pulling down 14 rebounds and giving the 36ers a strong presence inside.
Can Cairns make it three straight wins, or will the 36ers bring too much firepower up north?
Here is a Cairns Taipans vs Adelaide 36ers Prediction for Thursday, October 2nd 2025.
Be sure to check back before each NBL26 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for matches of NBL Season 26.
Cairns Taipans vs Adelaide 36ers
Venue – Cairns Convention Centre
Tip Off – 7.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 2-1 | 1-0 | 1-1 |
| Adelaide | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 79 | 90 | 169 |
| Adelaide | 87 | 80 | 167 |
Quick Game Facts
- The last five games between these two sides have averaged 187 total points
- Taipans lock it down: Their last two games have averaged just 158 total points, showing their focus on defence
- Struggling on the road: The 36ers have dropped 4 of their last 5 away games.
Quick Player Facts
- Jack McVeigh is on a tear, dropping 16+ points in nine straight home games
- Dejan Vasiljevic loves playing the Taipans, scoring 15+ points in seven straight clashes with Cairns.
- When the bookies back his team on the road, Bryce Cotton delivers big – scoring 32+ in five straight as an away favourite.
Prediction
The Cairns Taipans have strung together two wins, but their opponents have gone ice cold from deep — just 6 of 47 from three at a miserable 12.7%. Call it defence, call it luck, but now they face Bryce Cotton in full flight. He was electric last week, running the show and knocking down big shots. Cairns may be tough at home, but if Bryce gets cooking, the 36ers have every chance to silence the Snakepit.