Perth Wildcats have showcased their suite of attacking stars in a 32-point mauling of the Taipans in Cairns.
But the Snakes showed their biggest fight after the fulltime siren had sounded.
As players shook hands, Taipans import Admiral Schofield clashed with Wildcats star Jo Lual-Acuil and Lat Mayen – a former Taipan – as tensions exploded after the 110-78 demolition in the tropics.
While tempers were abated, it’s a fascinating post-script to what was a humiliating night for the Taipans.
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The Wildcats were rarely troubled by the struggling Snakes as they opened an eight-point lead by quarter time, and they never showed mercy.
It wasn’t the biggest loss of this NBL season but it must have felt it for the Orange Army, as Jo Lual-Acuil (24pts) Kristian Doolittle (18pts, 8reb, 2stl), and Elijah Pepper (18pts, three-from-four from deep) dominated to send an emphatic message to the rest of the league that the team from way out west should be centre of mind.
Jaron Rillie and Ben Henshall each dropped 10pts, while Next Star Noa Kouakou-Heugue (8pts) also showed out in his biggest performance yet as Perth claimed every available point on offer in the Ignite Cup by winning every quarter.
The Taipans, meanwhile, are in the deepest of slumps.
Admiral Schofield top-scored with 16 points on a night the Orange Army turned out to watch their team fall to a fourth-straight loss.
Million-dollar signing Jack McVeigh was again missing through injury, as was big Sam Waardenburg, and the duo will also miss the Friday night clash with Melbourne United.
Perth will host defending champions Illawarra on Sunday.