After a stack of cancelled NBL22 games to finish off 2021, we have a game on New Year’s Eve between the Cairns Taipans and the Perth Wildcats.
Both sides are coming off long breaks with no matches as games have been cancelled, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to getting back on the court.
The Taipans have been impressive at home to start the season, whilst this is the first time the Wildcats have left their home court in NBL22.
Here is an NBL Tip and NBL Prediction for the Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats.
Be sure to check back before each NBL22 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for each match of NBL Season 22.
A Star Rating is used to show the confidence level of each Head to Head NBL Match Prediction.
⭐ = A Tough Match to Pick
⭐⭐ = A Decent Chance
⭐⭐⭐ = Should Get the Win
Season NBL Prediction Form
| NBL Tips | Result | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Star ⭐ | 4/7 | 57.1% |
| 2 Star ⭐⭐ | 10/12 | 83.3% |
| 3 Star ⭐⭐⭐ | 4/5 | 80% |
| Overall Season Tips | 18/24 | 75% |
Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats
Venue – Cairns Convention Centre
Tip Off – 8pm EST
Season Record
| Team | Win/Loss | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 2-1 | 2-0 | 0-1 |
| Perth | 4-1 | 4-1 | 0-0 |
Season Team Statistics
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Rebs | Assists | Tu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 76.3 | 73.0 | 42.7 | 19.0 | 18.0 |
| Perth | 90.6 | 78.0 | 43.6 | 17.2 | 10.6 |
Shooting Statistics
| Team | FG % | 3PT % | FT % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 42.1% | 30.8% | 72.2% |
| Perth | 43.9% | 32.1% | 81.6% |
Player Stat Leaders
| Team | Points | Rebs | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | T.McCall 16.3 | S.Zimmerman 11.7 | T.McCall 6.0 |
| Perth | V.Law 24.2 | L.Travers 8.4 | B.Cotton 4.4 |
Last 3 Head to Head Matches
| Date | Matchup | Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Dec, 21 | Perth vs Cairns | 90-67 | (Wildcats by 23 Pts) |
| 21st May, 21 | Perth vs Cairns | 100-79 | (Wildcats by 21 Points) |
| 17th May, 21 | Cairns vs Perth | 78-89 | (Wildcats by 11 Pts) |
Prediction
The Perth Wildcats have won 9 out of their last 10 matches against the Cairns Taipans, but all the game cancellations and the need to travel to different destinations may take its toll.
Mitch Norton is a welcome return for the Wildcats defensively, and this should free up Bryce Cotton from extensive ball-handling duties.
The Taipans have been good at home so far, and their import Tahjere McCall and Stephen Zimmerman have shown what they can provide on both ends.
The Taipans will have a real crack in this match and may even pinch the win, but Bryce Cotton and Vic Law may be too strong on the offensive end.