NBA prospect Taran Armstrong posted the first triple-double of his NBL career as he fired the Cairns Taipans to a 100-88 home win over the Brisbane Bullets.
Armstrong exploded in the second half on Thursday night and finished with a equal game-high 28 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
Sam Wardenburg (23 points, seven rebounds) and Tanner Groves (15 points) were also effective for Cairns.
The Taipans, who will finish last on the ladder, have won four of their last six games in a strong finish to a campaign that ends away to Tasmania on Saturday night.
Keandre Cook did his best for Brisbane, tallying 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Casey Prather had 19 points.
Prather was in early foul trouble and spent time being assessed for a knee injury after slipping on the court during the first half.
It didn’t stop the Bullets erasing a 12-point deficit to tie the game at 48-all by half-time, with Cook instrumental.
But Armstrong and Wardenburg stepped up for Cairns in the third quarter and the second-year guard ripped the game away from the visitors in the final period.
The result brought down the curtain on an injury-riddled season for the Bullets, who will miss the NBL Finals for the sixth straight year.
Key players James Batemon, Josh Bannan, Tyrell Harrison, Sam McDaniel, Rocco Zikarsky, Deng Adel, Emmett Naar and Jarred Bairstow have all missed significant periods of the campaign.
Bullets chief executive Malcolm Watts this week revealed the club will commission an independent review of the injuries that derailed their season.
It comes amid ongoing speculation around the coaching future of Justin Schueller, who is contracted for next season.
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