Tigers build buffer on Taipans

Mustapha Farrakhan's lay-up took the Tigers 12 points clear of the Taipans at a critical stage. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

HIS team is arguably the hottest in the NBL right now with six consecutive wins but Melbourne Tigers coach Chris Anstey is doing his best to keep a lid on it.

It has been five long seasons since the club's last finals appearance, but the third-placed Tigers have never been better placed to break the drought.

The Tigers' gutsy 76-66 win over Cairns on Sunday - which improved its record to 10-6 - gives it a big four-game gap over the fourth-placed Taipans.

But Anstey said his team refused to get ahead of itself.

"I'm going to keep coming back to the fact that we still haven't achieved anything until we see how it looks in a final," he said.

"And we're still a long way off that."

The win over Cairns was Melbourne's fourth game in 10 days.

Anstey praised his players for fighting through the fatigue.

"It's an extraordinarily pleasing result," Anstey said.

Melbourne's Mark Worthington gets the rebound over Cairns' Mitchell Young. Source: News Limited

"Anyone watching the game could tell how tired we were - it's been a hell of a schedule.

"It was like a title fight, it was like a final.

"I thought we executed very well down the stretch."

Forward Adam Ballinger did the damage - scoring 13 final quarter points to see the Tigers home in front of a capacity crowd.

So often this season guard Chris Goulding has rescued the side with some fourth quarter heroics.

But Ballinger was the star on Sunday - sinking Cairns with some big clutch shots.

"I think for a good team you need to share the load, although I'm sure he (Goulding) wouldn't mind getting 30 every night," Ballinger joked.

"Good on him because he's a hell of a scorer and a hell of a player, but you're not going to win a championship like that.

"It's a special team because everyone wants to play hard and win for each other."

Melbourne appeared lethargic early before Mark Worthington helped spark the team late in the opening term.

The Taipans' Jamar Wilson looks to dish the ball off. Source: News Limited

With Goulding enjoying a rest, the Tigers surged to lead by five points at quarter-time.

It was the visitors that rallied in the second quarter to outscore the Tigers 20-12 for the term and lead by three at half-time.

With the referees calling everything, Tigers big man Scott Morrison found himself in foul trouble early in the third term.

Morrison had four fouls and was forced to sit down, but it didn't stop Melbourne's fight back.

In a tight contest, it was Tigers guard Nate Tomlinson who tipped the game in his side's favour with a big play.

Late in the third term he made a tough lay up at speed after a strong interception.

It helped Melbourne take a six-point lead into the final term.

The lead doubled to 12 points with 7:39 remaining when Mustapha Farrakhan nailed a three-pointer and then went coast to coast for an easy lay up.

Cairns made some tough shots to reduce the margin to five with just over three minutes remaining.

But Ballinger shut out the Taipans with five points in a minute.

The Tigers are back at The Cage on Friday night against New Zealand.

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