Cairns Taipans at South East Melbourne Phoenix

Nathan Sobey played for South East Melbourne Phoenix despite last game's knee-on-knee knock or cork. Coach Josh King: "he did a really good job getting rehab." Angus Glover on cramping after a layup: "I couldn't really get the cramp out. But nah, I'm all good."

Skylar Mays came off the bench as South East Melbourne Phoenix shook up the starting lineup. Josh King told Mays before the game and got "a super professional answer". Starting spots depend on who is playing well on the night: "when you're 2-5, that's what you do."

Angus Glover started for South East Melbourne Phoenix for the first time in a while, with a simple brief: "Go bring some energy and have some fun." He admitted he "probably fell in love with the three a little bit at times" and is getting back to attacking the rim.

Jordan Hunter had a double-double for South East Melbourne Phoenix, including 8 offensive rebounds, on no sleep after his baby's birth, Angus Glover said. Asked if his split with Yannis Morin continues, coach Josh King said: "we'll see moving forward how we handle that."

"Yeah, we ran out of gas." Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said his players have had 4 days off in the last 32. So despite giving up 27 offensive rebounds, he'll keep the 4 practices before New Zealand lighter: "I'm not going to smash them with rebounding drills."

Jack McVeigh and Keanu Pinder are "very ill" and being isolated from the group, Cairns coach Adam Forde said. Neither got out of bed for 48 hours, yet both played about 20 minutes. He said they "shouldn't have played." Illness has also hit Forde and the team manager.

Shaun Bruce needs managing, Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde said, so 17-year-old Luke Paul faces "an increased expectation" to run point. About half a dozen players have nagging issues Forde called nothing major, which he wants to stop turning into "big things".