United stay perfect with win in Cairns

Melbourne United were never troubled as they handed the Cairns Taipans a fifth loss already in NBL26 of at least 27 points when they won 94-67 ahead of a mouth watering clash with Adelaide on Sunday.

United arrived at Cairns Convention Centre undefeated so far this season as they took on a Taipans team already having suffered four 30-plus point losses and on a five-match losing side.

Melbourne then started with 31 points to 16 in the first quarter on Friday night and were never headed on the way to the 27-point win ahead of hosting Bryce Cotton and the 36ers on Sunday at 8-0.

United captain Chris Goulding was celebrating his 37th birthday and helped himself to 14 points in just 18 minutes off the bench as he continues to work his way back from a quad injury.

The most impressive aspect of the win for Melbourne was how their depth was once again on show with 10 players getting at least 16 minutes, and nobody having to play more than 22.

They also won the game despite a poor three-point shooting night going 6/24 but they did go 26/28 at the foul line and had plenty of solid contributors.

Tyson Walker finished with 13 points, four assists and two steals, Finn Delany 11 points and six rebounds, Jesse Edwards 10 points, five boards and two blocks, and Milton Doyle 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

It was another tough night at home for Cairns who continue to sorely miss their first choice starting front court pair of Sam Waardenburg and Jack McVeigh.

The Snakes ended up shooting just 33 per cent from the field while only getting to the foul line 14 times and having 16 turnovers as they once again had too many self-inflicted wounds.

The Taipans are now 2-7 on the season having lost six straight with an average losing margin of 28.3 points.

Reyne Smith did make 3/5 from deep for 13 points while Andrew Andrews had 13 points and five assists, Admiral Schofield 11 points and seven rebounds, and Alex Higgins-Titsha 10 points, three boards and two blocks despite a hand injury.

Perth legend Ricky Grace this week labelled United "possibly the best team I've ever seen in the NBL" - and the title favourites showed why, racing to a 31-16 quarter-time lead.

Goulding, who last week overtook John Rillie to become the league's third most prolific three-point shooter - behind only Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal - finished the first term with a tough step back jumper, then a four-point play in the dying stages.

Melbourne went four minutes without a field goal in the second stanza as their offence dried up momentarily.

Smith finished the quarter with two triples and a deuce for the Snakes to reduce the gap to 48-34 at half-time.

United rediscovered their radar in the third term, which started with a Finn Delany three and ended with the visitors up 72-51.

The margin grew to 28 points late, despite Melbourne resting the majority of their main rotation down the stretch in readiness for Sunday's hotly anticipated match up with the Adelaide 36ers.

The Taipans are next in action in Brisbane on Thursday in a Sunshine Stoush with the Bullets.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

CAIRNS TAIPANS 67 (Smith 13, Andrews 13, Schofield 11)

MELBOURNE UNITED 94 (Goulding 14, Walker 13, Delany 11)

BOX SCORE