Thu Jan 23 09:00:00 UTC 2025: ## NBL Upset Rematch: Hawks Favored Against Taipans

**Cairns, Australia –** The Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks face off Thursday night in a highly anticipated NBL Round 18 matchup. While the Hawks currently lead the league (17-8), the Taipans pulled off a stunning upset earlier this month, defeating the Hawks 108-105 on their home court.

This rematch, however, is expected to have a different outcome. The Hawks are riding a two-game win streak featuring dominant victories, while the Taipans are at the bottom of the ladder (5-19) and coming off a 24-point loss. The Taipans’ key player, Taran Armstrong, is questionable due to back soreness, further jeopardizing their chances. While players like Tanner Groves and Rob Edwards have shown scoring potential, the Taipans need a collective effort to even compete with the Hawks’ strong lineup, which includes the recently dominant Sam Froling. The absence of Darius Days due to injury is a minor setback for the Hawks, but they are still heavily favoured.

Despite the previous upset, experts predict an easy win for the Illawarra Hawks, aiming to avoid a repeat of their earlier loss. The game tips off at 7:30 pm AEDT at the Cairns Convention Centre.

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