Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding has celebrated his 37th birthday by spearheading the undefeated NBL ladder leaders to a clinical 94-67 dismantling of Cairns.
Goulding, still on restricted court time as his comeback from a quad injury continues to take shape, helped himself to 14 points in just 18 minutes off the bench as Melbourne (8-0) rode a fast start to an easy win at the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night.
Import Tyson Walker added 13 points for United, who had five double-digit scorers and all 12 players hitting the scoreboard.
"Really solid defensive performance on the night - 18 was the most they scored in a quarter," Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman said.
"To be able to win games when you don't shoot well is really pleasing.
"We're finding different ways to win."
Guards Reyne Smith and Andrew Andrews posted 13 points apiece for the Taipans, whose fifth consecutive loss saw them crash to 2-6.
Perth legend Ricky Grace this week labelled United "possibly the best team I've ever seen in the NBL" - and the title favourites showed why, racing to a 31-16 quarter-time lead.
Goulding, who last week overtook John Rillie to become the league's third most prolific three-point shooter - behind only Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal - finished the first term with a tough stepback jumper, then a four-point play in the dying stages.
Melbourne went four minutes without a field goal in the second stanza as their offence dried up momentarily.
Smith finished the quarter with two triples and a deuce for the Snakes to reduce the gap to 48-34 at halftime.
United rediscovered their radar in the third term, which started with a Finn Delany three and ended with the visitors up 72-51.
The margin grew to 28 points late, despite Melbourne resting the majority of their main rotation down the stretch in readiness for Sunday's top-of-the-table blockbuster against Adelaide at John Cain Arena.
"We had the wrong guys taking the wrong shots," said Cairns coach Adam Forde, hamstrung by the absence of the Taipans' best player Jack McVeigh (wrist), captain Sam Waardenburg (ankle) and homegrown forward Kody Stattman (hamstring).
"And the looseness with the turnovers ... it's one thing to be pressured, it's another thing just to turn the ball over.
"We've got guys out there making decisions that we don't want making those decisions just yet at this stage in their career."
