Taran strong-arms Brisbane with historic triple double

• Taran Armstrong's 28-point triple double is the highest points since LaMelo Ball in 2019
• Robert Rose has the most triple doubles in league history with 13
• Andrew Gaze has the highest points total triple double with 44-12-12 in 1986

Taran Armstrong delivered the first and only triple-double of NBL25 to lead the Cairns Taipans to a decisive 100-88 (Game Centre) victory against the Brisbane Bullets in the Sunshine Stoush in round 20 on February 6, 2025.

Armstrong's historic performance of 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists electrified the 4,145 fans at Cairns Convention Centre, propelling the Taipans to just their fourth home win of the season.

His 10th rebound to complete the milestone came with just seconds left on Brisbane's Casey Prather's missed lay-up.

Taipans coach Adam Forde said: "This is just an example of what he's capable of doing and the evolution of his game from last year to this year.

"Imagine what that's going to look like five years from now, wherever he is in the world, just capitalising on his talent that he's had to work really hard for."

The young point guard's triple-double was the first in the NBL since Trey Kell III's 16-10-12 performance for the Adelaide 36ers against, ironically, the Illawarra Hawks on New Year's Eve 2023. In NBL25, Kell III has led the Hawks to their first minor premiership in the club's history.

23-year-old Armstrong's 28-point triple double is the most points since LaMelo Ball's 32-11-13 performance against Cairns on November 25, 2019. Ball holds the record for the youngest player in league history to record a triple double at just 18 years, 95 days old.

Armstrong's historic performance is the 130th triple double in NBL history. Its the equal 13th highest points total in a triple double since Phil Smyth's first — 16-10-11 — in league history on July 10, 1982.

Unsurprisingly, Australian men's GOAT Andrew Gaze holds the NBL's points record triple double with a thoroughly ridiculous 44-12-12 performance for the Melbourne Tigers against the Sydney Kings on August 24, 1986. But it's Robert Rose who holds the record for the most triple doubles at 13 just under twice the amount of second-placed Sam Mackinnon with seven. Rose's record is unlikely to be ever broken given the NBL is now in the 40-minute era.

Back to the game, it was showcase for Cairns' big men, with Tanner Groves draining three early triples to help the Taipans open up a 12-point lead in the first quarter.

However, Brisbane's resilience shone through as they fought back, led by Keandre Cook's 13 first-quarter points.

The Bullets' comeback continued into the second frame, with injury replacement Callum Dalton providing an unexpected spark off the bench. Dalton's career-high 10 points, including an emphatic alley-oop dunk, helped Brisbane erase the deficit and tie the game at 48-48 by halftime.

The third quarter remained a tight affair, with Casey Prather keeping the Bullets within striking distance. But it was Armstrong who took control in the final period, orchestrating an 11-0 run that ultimately sealed the victory for Cairns.

Armstrong's historic night was complemented by strong performances from his teammates.

Sam Waardenburg contributed 23 points and seven rebounds, while Groves finished with 15 points on efficient 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. For Brisbane, Cook led the way with 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, showcasing his development in his first NBL season.

The victory improved Cairns' record to 8-20, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging season.

For Brisbane, the loss marked the end of a season marred by injuries, finishing with a 12-17 record. Despite missing key players like Tyrell Harrison, Josh Bannan, and Deng Adel, the Bullets' fighting spirit remained evident throughout the campaign.

Brisbane coach Justin Schueller remained optimistic about the future: "Sometimes years like this are right before when it really becomes what you're building to and I know we've got something special building right now."

As the NBL25 regular season winds down, the Taipans will look to carry this momentum into their final game against the defending champion Tasmania JackJumpers on Saturday at MyState Bank Arena. For Armstrong and the Taipans, this victory serves as a bright spot in a challenging year and a tantalising glimpse of what the future may hold for the franchise and its rising star.