Cairns' grip on $50K Shootout gets tighter

• Cairns Taipans 111 points is new benchmark for Summer Shootout
• NZ is gone, United are gone, Kings are gone and 36ers are done and
• Summer Shootout is still wide open, number to beat is 111 points

Cairns Taipans lit up the Brisbane Bullets for 111 points to knock the Perth Wildcats out of the running for the 2025 NBL Summer Shootout.

Rob Edwards scorching 35-point performance pushed the Cairns Taipans into the NBL Summer Shoot out lead and a 111-80 (Game Centre) thrashing of the Brisbane Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Soon-to-be five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton propelled the Perth Wildcats to 105 points in their Summer Shootout clash against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

The 105 points knocked out the Adelaide 36ers, who scored 103 in a one-point loss to Melbourne United two days earlier and easily accounted for the Sydney Kings' 91 points in a five-point win against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday, January 4, 2025 and United's 81 in a 19-point loss to the Adelaide 36ers on the same day.

The Breakers chose South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday, January 18, 2025 and didn't get close. They lost to the Phoenix 102-89, well short of Cairns' 111.

Illawarra chose the Taipans and only scored 94 points in a stunning 100-94 loss to the home side Game Centre, who protected their Shootout lead.

Tasmania JackJumpers chose the Phoenix and they didn't get close. South East Melbourne crushed the visitors 116-80 Game Centre.

There are only two games left in Summer Shootout. This is the run-down to one club winning $50,000 and a fan $100,000:

1. Friday, January 31, 2025: Brisbane Bullets have chosen Adelaide 36ers (Game Centre)
2. Friday, January 31, 2025: And for all the marbles, South East Melbourne Phoenix have chosen Perth Wildcats (Game Centre).

Shootout Form Guide

• Brisbane Bullets have scored 696 points in 8 eight games at an average of 87 points per game.
• South East Melbourne Phoenix have scored 645 points in seven road games, averaging just more than 92 points per game.

What it means

NBL fans that have taken either Illawarra Hawks or South East Melbourne Phoenix are in a much better position than those who have selected the Breakers, Taipans, JackJumpers and Bullets. While the Taipans are playing better basketball right now, they are still leaking points at home, so the favourite to eclipse Perth's 105 have to be the Hawks.

But the Shootout will come down to the last ball game, given the Phoenix are averaging 92 points on the road and hope to get into a literal shootout with the high scoring Wildcats.

FAQs from NBL.com.au

What happens if more than one fan successfully nominates the winning club and points total?
If multiple fans nominate the successful club and points total, they will go into a draw and one winner will be selected to win the $100,000 prize.

What happens if no one nominates the successful club or points total?
The fan nominating the total points closest to the winning total will be deemed the winner. If multiple fans nominate this score, the above rule will apply.

When will the winners be announced?
The winning club of the Summer Shootout will be determined at the conclusion of the final nominated match on January 31, 2025 and the winner of the prize notified on February 7, 2025.

What happens if a game goes to overtime?
The points scored total is awarded at the end of the game – which includes any periods of overtime.

Can the ‘home’ team in a Shootout match win the prize?
No, the prize is awarded to the away team (only) who scores the highest points in their nominated Shootout match.

Can a team win the Shootout prize if they score the highest number of points, but lose the match?
Yes, a team can lose their Shootout match and still win the prize if they score the highest points of all 10 away teams.