Chris Goulding helps Melbourne demolish Cairns

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.

Guards Reyne Smith and Andrew Andrews posted 13 points apiece for the Taipans, whose fifth consecutive loss saw them crash to 2-6.

Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images

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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.