The defending champions, the Sydney Kings, are back for NBL27 and will host the Cairns Taipans at Afterpay Arena in their first game of the new season.
The Kings have lost a few players from last season’s championship-winning team, but they have retained the core of their roster. Kendric Davis, Xavier Cooks, Torrey Craig and Matthew Dellavedova all return as Sydney looks to defend its NBL title and start NBL27 with a win on home court.
The Cairns Taipans could be one of the more interesting teams to watch this season. We already know Jack McVeigh can fill up the stat sheet, while the additions of Keanu Pinder, Jonah Bolden and Malique Lewis give the Taipans plenty of experience and athleticism across the roster.
For Cairns, the challenge will be putting all of those pieces together against the reigning champions. The Taipans will be hoping their new additions can make an immediate impact and help them push for a playoff spot in NBL27.
Here is a Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans Prediction for Sunday, September 20th 2026.
Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans
Venue – Afterpay Arena
Tip Off – 5pm EST
Pre-Season Blitz Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1-1 | ||
| Cairns | 1-1 |
Pre-Season Blitz Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 89.5 | 98 | 187.5 |
| Cairns | 85.5 | 97 | 182.5 |
Prediction
The Sydney Kings are the defending champions, but they are missing some key role players from last season, while Kendric Davis has only just rejoined the team. The Cairns Taipans have looked okay in the preseason and have a roster with the potential to be competitive this season.
The Sydney Kings should get it done, but it would not be at all surprising if the Taipans stick around until deep in the fourth quarter. With Cairns showing some promising signs in the preseason, this could be a closer contest than the defending champions would like.