The big picture

Cairns Taipans come in 4th on the ladder; Perth Wildcats are 7th. Cairns Taipans have the higher position to protect.

Cairns Taipans are 9–9 in NBL 2026-27, averaging 94 points for and 98.4 against.

Perth Wildcats are 6–7 in NBL 2026-27, averaging 93 points for and 96 against.

Form

Cairns Taipans have won two of their last five and most recently lost to Illawarra Hawks 95–107.

Perth Wildcats have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Brisbane Bullets 104–109.

Perth Wildcats have lost their last three.

Head to head

These sides have met 17 times on our records since 2022: Cairns Taipans 4, Perth Wildcats 13.

Last time out (2026-27, Round 1), Cairns Taipans won 85–82.

Biggest margin between these two: Perth Wildcats by 37 points in 2025-26 (106–69).

Players to watch

For Cairns Taipans, watch Jack McVeigh (15.2 points a game, 36 rebounds in 2026-27) and Jaylon Brown (13 points a game, 35 rebounds in 2026-27).

For Perth Wildcats, watch Elijah Pepper (15.6 points a game, 33 rebounds in 2026-27) and Dylan Windler (14.7 points a game, 67 rebounds in 2026-27).

Milestone watch

Jack McVeigh is set to play game 100.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Cairns Taipans have the edge.