Basketball On The Internet.

NBL fans tuning in from afar to watch the highly-anticipated Blitz clash in Canberra between Tasmania and Cairns tonight could have been forgiven for clicking the remote over to an old Stranger Things episode after a seering and alarmingly dismal opening quarter of ineptitude.

The score at the first break saw the JackJumpers holding an 18-7 edge which should have been decisively greater given Cairns shot it at an appalling 3-of-22 and was a putrid 0-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Seriously, you can watch stuff like this on any social basketball court in the land. But then remember, this is the PRESEASON and stranger things can happen, just as what unfolded at AIS Arena.

Because out of the ugliest acorn a great game sprouted, highlighted by the Taipans comeback after new JJ Ben Ayre's 3-pointer made the buffer 21-7 early in the second period.

A dazzling three straight triples by Sam Waardenburg before two threes by the greatly improved Kody Stattmann (17 points at 55 per cent, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) sparked new import Admiral Schofield to pipe himself aboard.

Schofield (24 points at 50 per cent) lifted his new team with 13 second quarter points and when Kyrin Galloway struck a triple - Cairns' hit eight in the second period alone - the scores were locked at 37-37.

Threes by new Tasmania faces Nick Marshall and Tyger Campbell meant the Jackies had a 45-40 lead at halftime and what started as a 10-car pile-up had evolved into a pristine Formula One race.

It was on from there, Josh Bannan showing what a great decision he made in switching to the JackJumpers with 14 points in the final quarter, including two high pressure free throws for the 87-85 lead with heartbeats left.

Jack McVeigh attacked the basket, his Paris Olympic Boomers and Tasmania championship teammate Will Magnay soaring for the heavens in his attempt to block the ball high off the backboard. But McVeigh's shot escaped Magnay's fingertips, sending the match into overtime at 87-87.

Galloway wasn't so lucky as overtime began. Magnay first rejected his dunk attempt, then jumped back up to reject his follow up attempt, and suddenly, this had all the passion of a final!

Now it was Campbell's time to step up and he did, Tasmania snatching a ferocious 97-95 victory, fellow import Bryce Hamilton (25 points, 7 rebounds, two assists and a steal) also announcing there's a new Bryce in town. Bannan's 22-point, 11-rebound double augurs well for what is to come.

Earlier, Brisbane turned back Sydney's attempt at an early knock-out which saw Tim Soares compiling 11 of his 22 points at 90 per cent in the Kings' 28-18 opener.

Keli Leaupepe closed the first with 10 points and while the Kings appeared to be rolling, they did not win another quarter.

Bullets import Javon Freeman-Liberty (27 points at 67 per cent, five boards, four assists, four steals) could not be contained attacking the hoop. Jaylen Adams and Casey Prather played as the seasoned import vets they are and there was much to enjoy about Stu Lash's first outing as Brisbane coach.

Sydney caused a late scare but just as all of the teams tonight, the Kings were down significant pieces such as Kendric Davis, making it foolhardy to read too much into anything that occurred.

We've seen stranger things.

BLITZ SCORES:

Perth Wildcats 84 (Henshall 16, Windler, Okwera 12, Mayen 10; Henshall 7 rebs; 3 with 2 assts) d Melbourne United 78 (Doyle 15, Edwards 13, Delany 12; Edwards 9 rebs; Doyle 3 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 23-17, 21-22, 24-29, 16-10. Blitz Pts: Perth 5, Melbourne 2

Adelaide 36ers 104 (White 20, Vasiljevic 17, Cameron 16, Kubank 14, Griscti 13, Cheatham 10; Cheatham 6 rebs; White 6 assts) d Illawarra Hawks 83 (Hickey 14, Grida 12, Swaka Lo Buluk, Blanchfield 11; Grida 10 rebs; H.Froling 3 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 23-17, 21-21, 31-23, 29-22. Blitz Pts: Adelaide 6.5, Illawarra 0.5

Brisbane Bullets 100 (Freeman-Liberty 27, Adams 18, Prather 16, Dalton 10; McDaniel, Smith-Milner 6 rebs; Adams 6 assts) d Sydney Kings 92 (Soares 22, Leaupepe 14, Cooks 12, Galloway 10; Cooks 9 rebs; Dellavedova 10 assts) at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 18-28, 24-21, 31-22, 27-21. Blitz Pts: Brisbane 6, Sydney 1

Tasmania JackJumpers 97 (Hamilton 25, Bannan 22, Campbell 14, Deng 10; Bannan 11 rebs; Campbell 8 assts) d Cairns Taipans 95 (Schofield 24, McVeigh 18, Stattmann 17, Galloway 12, Waardenburg 11; Lee 11 rebs; Stattman 6 assts) in overtime {87-87} at AIS Arena. Q-Q: 18-7, 27-33, 19-23, 23-24*, 10-8* (=33-32). Blitz Pts: Tasmania 5, Cairns 2

Tomorrow: South East Melbourne v New Zealand, Illawarra v Perth (Kayo & Disney+)