2026-02-12

Cairns 85 - 89 Melbourne

Melbourne United overcame a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to defeat the Cairns Taipans 89-85. United outscored the Taipans 33-25 in the final period, utilizing a significant volume advantage to secure the win. Melbourne attempted 84 field goals compared to 64 for Cairns, a discrepancy driven by a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds and a disciplined performance that saw them commit only 10 turnovers against Cairns' 14.

Milton Doyle was instrumental for Melbourne, contributing 25 points off the bench, which significantly exceeded his season average of 15.7 points per game. Doyle's 44.4% shooting from beyond the arc provided essential spacing for a Melbourne team that struggled with efficiency elsewhere. For Cairns, Jack McVeigh recorded 25 points and 8 rebounds, exceeding his season average of 21.8 points. McVeigh was particularly effective at drawing fouls, converting 10 of his 11 free-throw attempts as Cairns maintained a high free-throw rate of 45.3%.

The game's closing minute saw Tyson Walker hit a critical three-pointer to give Melbourne a five-point cushion with 47 seconds remaining. Although Andrew Andrews responded with a late triple for Cairns to bring the margin within two, Melbourne secured the victory at the free-throw line. Despite Cairns shooting a higher percentage from the field (42.2% vs. 40.5%), Melbourne's 32.7% offensive rebounding rate allowed them to maintain control through second-chance opportunities.

Box Score Shooting Lineups