Not enough ... Taipans go down by a point to tiger. Getty Source: Getty Images 
Not enough ... Taipans go down by a point to tiger. Getty Source: Getty Images MELBOURNE Tigers found a host of fourth quarter get-out-of-jail free cards to ace Cairns Taipans by one point in the NBL.
Melbourne trailed for most of the match at the State Netball Centre, but still managed a 99-98 win built mainly on some clutch efforts inside the final four minutes.
The Tigers found the escape hatch when a Rod Grizzard three-pointer gave them the lead with 3:58 remaining.
They then had to survive two Taipans chances to win the match - which the visitors couldn't convert.
Ebi Ere starred for the Tigers with 22 points, while centre Chris Anstey had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Ex-Tiger turned Taipan Dave Thomas scored 20 points against his old club.
It was the Taipans third successive loss in circumstances Cairns coach Alan Black called "depressing and frustrating", especially since they had chances to win the game.
"When you're struggling, those things don't go your way. When you're on a roll, they do," Black said.
"We've just got to find ways to get over the line in games we should get over the line."
Tigers coach Al Westover admitted his team had a bit of luck on their side late in the match, but praised his side's defensive effort to keep Cairns to just 15 points in the final term.
Forward Sam Mackinnon said the Tigers were still tending to cruise during matches - something they needed to address quickly if they wanted to chase down the two teams ahead of them, South Dragons and New Zealand.
"It's a long way from finished," Mackinnon said of his star-studded team still not gelling as most expected they would have this season.
"We are getting there, but there's still a long way to go to get to our peak.
"We've got to try to bury a team - try to play for 48 minutes rather than 12 minutes.
"It's good to get away with a win because the season hasn't gone the way we'd like. But there's a lot to come."
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