A city-wide power outage which left the Cairns Convention Centre in darkness has resulted in the NBL match between the Taipans and Brisbane Bullets being abandoned and the win awarded to the visiting side.
The Bullets were leading 84-76 with just 1 minute 37 seconds of the match remaining when the lights and power went out.
While FIBA rules dictate the match should be abandoned and the result given to the team that was leading, the NBL has received a formal protest from the Taipans and will review the decision on Monday.
An electrical storm had cut power to the Cairns CBD and after several failed attempts to restore the lights the match was cancelled.
It wasn't the way he wanted it but Bullets coach Andre Lemanis wasn't complaining.
"It feels hollow, but having said that our group played well tonight, I'm very proud," Lemanis said.
Despondent Cairns coach Aaron Fearne confirmed that the Taipans would be appealing.
"Obviously there are lots of consequences, a loss, points spreads, the series. It could have a massive impact down the stretch," Fearne said.
"We would have had to make some special stuff to win, but I've been in plenty of situations where that has happened, it ain't over until it's over."
Five Bullets players finished with scores in double digits in the 84-76 point 'victory', their second in a row.
Cairns were up by as many as ten points in the second quarter before the Bullets reeled them back in to post a ten-point lead of their own.
Taipans forward Fuquan Edwin led a Cairns revival in the third quarter, burying a couple of contested threes but Cairns couldn't maintain enough offensive pressure the regain the lead.
Taipans guard Damon Heuir had a career best afternoon with 15 points and Mark Worthington was once again the Snakes' best with 14 points.
Cairns will play Melbourne in Melbourne on Friday while Brisbane will travel to Adelaide to play the 36ers on Saturday.
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