Basketball On The Internet.

IF you are among the non-converted, it's time to concede, Melbourne United is back.

Beating Cairns in Cairns, and comprehensively, on a night the Taipans were celebrating Mark Worthington's milestone 300th NBL game, not only shored up United's credibility, its 15th win virtually assured it of a playoff return this season.

Cairns previously had beaten Melbourne 82-70 at the Cairns Convention Centre after losing at Hisense earlier in the season 80-89.

It meant the Taipans, on a two-win roll, not only had reasons to feel good, but actually were leading their tied 1-1 season-series with a +3 point differential.

Not that a team on a 9-11 record has much chance of tying a team on 14-7.

But especially not if it gives up 14-of-27 from outside the arc.

"Some of the threes we gave up were just embarrassing," Cairns coach Aaron Fearne lamented post-game.

Yep.

The post-season dream remains faintly alive for the Taipans but in reality, a dream is all it is now, their minute margin for error from here to the end of the regular season even more microscopic from here on out.

Worthington battled hard but four shot attempts from Cam Gliddon for the contest - he scored 25 last game - was not just a testament to United's defence but also to his disengagement offensively.

GREAT MOVE: Mark Worthington goes baseline for the reverse. Picture: GORDON GREAVES

Torrey Craig was tireless for a 20-point, 15-rebound double but it was thin on the ground from there for the Taipans.

Melbourne blew it apart in the second quarter and can put a formal end to any Cairns aspirations tomorrow in Melbourne.

United was back to its cocky best, Stephen Holt in control and Nate Tomlinson also bobbing up with a better scoring contribution.

Melbourne is back. United fans will be thinking "we never left - we're top of the table" but most of us can recognise they went through some struggles after that initial 9-0 onslaught.

If the top four is going to change before the playoffs, United won't be the team watching the post-season on Fox Sports TV.

Tonight: BEFORE Melbourne got its mojo back (officially), I was far more confident of an Illawarra win tonight against New Zealand at The Sandpit. But if United can find it, why not the Breakers, who have been looking somewhat seedy of late? You still have to go with the favourite Hawks, who are 2-0 on NZ this season. But this should be a cracker.

Last night: MELBOURNE UNITED 83 (Holt, Goulding 19, Warrick 14, Kickert 12, Tomlinson 11; Warrick 8 rebs; Tomlinson 4 assts) d CAIRNS TAIPANS 65 (Worthington 22, Craig 20, Starks 10; Craig 15 rebs; Worthington 2 assts) at Cairns Convention Centre.