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JACK McVeigh tickled a triple-double as Cairns tried hard to lose its first NBL home game of the season against Brisbane, but failed and prevailed 83-82 anyway, the Bullets simply unable to fully utilise dominant centre Tyrell Harrison with the game and the road win there for the taking.

The Bullets' "coaching-by-committee" methodology needed to be working early as the Taipans came out in a far more aggressive frame of mind than last week's meek road capitulation, the outraged post-game words of coach Adam Forde ringing in their ears.

It didn't hurt either that new import playmaker Andrew Andrews was suiting up, despite only barely off the plane and with no legs on his shot for more than a half.

His presence still inserted a measure of control absent last round but there still were major flaws cramping Cairns' ability to be as good as it most likely will be.

Reyne Smith, for example, needs to be reined in somewhat. His game-opening drive to the hoop was promising but from 1-of-1 he finished on 2-of-9 and several of his choices were the type that promote early greyness, hair loss and ulcers in coaches.

That McVeigh was able to finish with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists was testament to his abilities because on most, he had to go alone against the Brisbane defence.

The only time he looked comfortable was when his NBL championship winning teammate at Tasmania, Marcus Lee, came outside to set screens for him. That pick-and-roll combination of theirs was classic JJs and much of the reason the Taipans were able to pull clear.

Admiral Schofield's game also was worth saluting and when Andrews found his shot, the Taipans were off to a 12-point lead.

Brisbane losing Sam McDaniel early to injury - apparently losing Mitch Norton in Game 1 wasn't enough - didn't help the cause but nor did the Bullets inability to cash in on Harrison's huge presence.

The Bullets centre again posted 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, with only Lee able to challenge him inside.

The Taipans tried Kyrin Galloway but Harrison was simply too big and with Casey Prather and Javon Freeman-Liberty looking sharp, Brisbane appeared to have the talent to win.

Using Alex Ducas to try neutralise McVeigh was a fail, Cairns breaking away from a 56-56 deadlock late in the third to a 65-56 lead at 9:11 in the fourth.

McVeigh free throws meant Cairns led 74-62 on an 18-6 run with 6:27 left. And from there, it all began to unravel.

Harrison's dunk drew a foul from Lee, his bonus free throw cutting the deficit to 65-74. Running down the floor, Lee unnecessarily tangled up with Ducas, copping his fifth foul. It was uncharacteristic for the usually unflappable veteran big man and from the door being slightly ajar for Brisbane, it was suddenly flung open.

Freeman-Liberty (twice) and Prather drove hard for buckets, it taking a McVeigh J to stop the rot.

But the rot had set in, Cairns looking as if it now was playing not-to-lose, rather than to win, Brisbane seizing full advantage.

Prather's layup with 1:52 left gave Brisbane the lead 79-78, Forde calling time-out.

McVeigh's calculated 3-pointer restored Cairns lead to 81-79, Harrison aborted two free throws and under-utilised Kody Stattmann - this kid is a player - grabbed the defensive board. Fouled, he coolly converted both freebies.

Freeman-Liberty dragged the deficit back to 82-83 before Jaylen Adams jumped onto McVeigh, who was on the floor hustling for a defensive rebound. Right in front of the referee, Adams' shoulder clearly struck McVeigh's head for what should have been an unsportsmanlike foul.

Instead, the jumpball arrow ensured a Brisbane possession, Alex Higgins-Titsha blocking the shot on Freeman-Liberty's drive.

Freeman-Liberty had another float shot for the win but missed, Higgins-Titsha with the board, the Taipans having slithered to safety.

Round 2

Melbourne United 103 (Doyle 18, Walker 13, Krslovic 12, Ili, Krebs, Delany 10; Edwards 6 rebs; Walker 8 assts) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 83 (Sobey 26, Brown 12, Hunter 9; Gak, Glover 6 rebs; Maldonado 7 assts) at the UN, John Cain Arena. Crowd: 10,035

Cairns Taipans 83 (Schofield, McVeigh 19, Lee 12; McVeigh 9 rebs; McVeigh 9 assts) d Brisbane Bullets 82 (Harrison 22, Freeman-Liberty 21, Prather 18, Adams 12; Harrison, Freeman-Liberty 7 rebs; Adams 6 assts) at the Taipanadrome, Cairns Convention Centre. Crowd: 4,052