The Adelaide 36ers handed the Cairns Taipans their eighth straight NBL loss on Friday night

The Cairns Taipans will limp into the FIBA window bye on the back of their eighth straight defeat as the resurgent Adelaide are on their way to getting their season back on track.

Robert Loe of the Taipans and Daniel Johnson of the Adelaide 36ers (left) during the Round 7 NBL match between the Adelaide 36ers and Cairns Taipans at Titanium Security Arena in Adelaide, Friday, November 23, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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THE Taipans will limp into the FIBA window bye on the back of their eighth straight defeat as the resurgent Adelaide are on their way to getting their season back on track.

After parting ways with import Adris De León, the 36ers have now put two victories together following the 109-95 triumph over Cairns.

While things are looking up for Joey Wright’s men, it is the opposite situation for the Snakes as they sit at the foot of the ladder with a 1-8 record.

Cairns were desperate for a breakthrough victory on the road on Friday night to provide a burst of positivity into the FIBA bye but will again have to dwell on another defeat.

The last team to lose eight straight games was the Illawarra Hawks in October and November of 2014 who lost 11 in a row.

Cairns led by as much as eight in the first half but never really threatened to cause an upset from then on.

Adelaide shooting guard Anthony Drmic effectively killed off the contest inside two minutes of the third term as he drained three straight three’s to push the lead to a then game high 14.

Cairns’ slow starts have been a problem all season but it was not a worry on Friday, skipping out to an eight-point lead at one stage in the first term.

Melo Trimble was the driving force behind the advantage as he dropped 11 points in the opening ten minutes.

Trimble finished with a team high 23 points.

Devon Hall of the Taipans during the Round 7 NBL match between the Adelaide 36ers and Cairns Taipans at Titanium Security Arena in Adelaide, Friday, November 23, 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Snakes handed the ball back to their opponents way too often in the first half, recording double figure turnovers that fuelled the 36ers high octane offence.

Athletic Adelaide import Jacob Wiley put on a show from the inside and outside early on, hitting on eight of his first 10 shots.

Wiley led the game with 30 points in a marvellous performance.

“My teammates were looking for me tonight and we pulled out the win,” Wiley said.

A thunderous DJ Newbill dunk to close out the second term brought Cairns within five at the long break.

Skipper Alex Loughton again missed with an ankle concern.

The veteran forward travelled with the team but did not get up for the third straight game.

Big man Nate Jawai got through the game unscathed and is expected to be recalled to the Australian Boomers squad on Monday when the team is released.

Jawai found 10 points and four rebounds in just 20 minutes on the court.

Originally published as The Adelaide 36ers handed the Cairns Taipans their eighth straight NBL loss on Friday night