THERE is still a championship favourite in the National Basketball League (NBL) after four rounds in the 2025/26 season, with Melbourne United remaining unbeaten with a huge win over the Cairns Taipans over the weekend.

United came into the clash with four wins from four games, and were looking like the team to beat in the NBL this season, hosting Cairns at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Taipans were in a bit of a form slump, and tasked with the tallest order in the competition at the moment in knocking off Melbourne on its home deck.

United were simply far too good for the Taipans when the sides went head to head, winning all four quarters and cruising home to a massive 35-point triumph to remain the only side in the competition yet to lose a game.

Melbourne United (95) def. Cairns Taipans (60)

The first quarter was all Melbourne, with United getting their shooters open, while also finding success scoring at the basket. On the other hand, the Taipans simply could not get going on the offensive end, coughing up possessions and missing wide open shots to trail by 12 points at the first change in a disappointing start on the road.

The story was much the same in the second frame, with United continuing to build on their strong margin with contributors popping up everywhere. At the main change, the Taipans were yet to register a made three-pointer on 13 attempts and were not able to generate any sort of offensive cohesion, scoring just 10 points for the quarter and trailing by 23 points.

It was an improved performance from Cairns in the third frame, as the visitors showed some fight and looked to inject some physicality into the game, although it did go one step too far when Jack McVeigh decked Chris Goulding and was issued an unsportsmanlike foul. Despite showing more in the third quarter, the margin still grew to 29 points by three quarter time, such was the power of United.

United coach Dean Vickerman gave plenty of minutes to his bench unit in the fourth quarter, and they justified their court time with a productive showing in what was a dominant performance from the entire team. The Taipans simply could not make up any ground on the road and ended up falling by 35 points at John Cain Arena.

12 of the 13 United players to receive playing time hit the scoreboard in a marvellous and ominous team showing, with Goulding’s return proving incredibly successful as the veteran dropped an equal game-high 16 points off the bench, matching the output of big man Jesse Edwards, who had 16 points and 12 boards of his own.

Import guard Tyson Walker was productive with 12 points, and despite a quiet night from Milton Doyle, who had two points on 1/10 shooting, United were able to almost reach triple digits in a masterful team showing.

One shining light for the Taipans was Alex Higgins-Titsha, who fought hard to inject some offence into his team off the bench, dropping 16 points on an efficient 6/8 shooting from the field to be the leading scorer for Cairns on a tough night.