A second-quarter onslaught has launched the Cairns Taipans out of early trouble and to a 94-85 NBL victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Chasing their fourth successive win without star forward Keanu Pinder (ankle injury), the Taipans fell in a huge hole on Sunday afternoon, trailing 35-24 at quarter-time and by 13 points early in the second term.
But they responded with a sizzling 33-14 second-quarter onslaught and backed it up with a 19-13 third term to drive home their advantage.
The Phoenix's fourth straight defeat dropped them to sixth on the ladder, putting their finals hopes in jeopardy.
Their MVP candidate Mitch Creek had a game-high 25 points but didn't complete the match after sustaining an eye poke from DJ Hogg midway through the fourth period.
Captain Tahjere McCall (24 points) top-scored for the Snakes, who were under the pump early. They were being on rebounds 12-3 in the opening quarter, during which the Phoenix shot a sizzling 68 percent.
Spectacularly, the Taipans turned it around in a high-voltage second term.
They pinched the lead on a 14-0 run and extended their advantage to 57-49 when McCall drained a three-pointer on the halftime buzzer.
DJ Hogg had connected on 4-of-5 triples at the long break before fellow import Shannon Scott hurt Phoenix at both ends.
The margin swelled to 17 points when Majok Deng stripped Creek and finished with a lay-up.
Ryan Broekhoff and Ryan Foxwell got going in the fourth and the Phoenix never waved the white flag, but their task was a forlorn one while Creek was out of action.
