Melbourne United escaped with a narrow 89-85 victory over the Cairns Taipans at the Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday, February 12, 2026. In a tense playoff-like atmosphere, the defending champions showed their championship mettle by executing in the final minutes to secure a hard-fought road win. The Taipans led for much of the game, frustrating Melbourne with their disciplined defense and taking a small lead into the fourth quarter. However, United's experience shone through as their star players made a series of big plays in the clutch, including a critical three-pointer and a defensive stop in the final minute. This result was a character-building win for Melbourne, helping them keep pace near the top of the table, while Cairns was left to ponder another close loss against a top opponent.