Cairns Taipans have opened their NBL campaign with a 106-84 win over last season's grand-finalists Tasmania JackJumpers, thanks to a stunning third-quarter blitz.
Majok Deng starred with a game-high 26 points as the Taipans put a dampener on the JackJumpers' first home game of the competition at sold-out MyState Bank Arena in Hobart.
Down 50-48 at halftime, the Taipans produced a 39-17 third quarter, nailing nine of 13 three-point shots to go ahead 87-67.
It came after the visitors were a meagre two from 12 from beyond the three-point line at halftime.
"The first quarter was a little bit of nerves. Did I anticipate 39 points in the third-quarter? Probably not," Taipans coach Adam Forde said.
"We're still building our identity. Of our 13-man squad, (we have) eight brand new guys.
"We had our ups and downs. We weathered the storm. There was a real moment in the fourth where the momentum swung to Tassie. We stayed locked in."
Deng shot nine from 11 from the field for the match, including four three-pointers, and also picked up five rebounds.
Bul Kuol and import DJ Hogg notched 17 points each, while captain Tahjere McCall played a leading hand with a game-high seven rebounds and seven assists.
The JackJumpers pulled the margin back to 10 points in the final quarter but couldn't maintain the run, leaving Scott Roth's side 0-2 to begin the season.
Cairns, who finished second bottom on the ladder in 2021/22, only put more than 100 on the board twice last season.
Roth lamented the JackJumpers' lack of defensive intensity, following their 84-79 loss to South Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night in the competition opener.
"Our defence is obviously nowhere near where it was last year for whatever the reasons may be," he said.
"It will have to be a work in progress."
Tasmania had a 23-15 lead at quarter time after going on a run of 10 points early.
The Taipans found themselves down by 11 early in the second before Deng came to life to drag his team back into the contest.
He scored 12 points for the quarter before Tasmania big man Fabijan Krslovic nailed a three-pointer on the halftime buzzer to establish a two-point lead.
Cairns' Keanu Pinder copped a cork to the knee in the third-quarter but returned to the court and will be managed ahead of their match against the Pheonix on Saturday.
