Cairns come back to run down Hawks in NBL

NBL comeback kings Cairns have overturned a 16-point deficit to score a 102-101 home win in an epic double-overtime home clash with the Illawarra Hawks.

The Taipans' tenacity is unquestioned, having already recovered from double-digit deficits in six of their eight wins.

The Hawks made 17 of 35 three-point attempts, but had 14 fewer free throws than the home team, who also ended the marathon encounter with 11 more rebounds.

Cairns (8-5) shored up their top-four status but it was a second double-overtime loss of the campaign for the luckless last-placed Hawks (2-12).

Imports Tahjere McCall and DJ Hogg each scored 23 for Cairns, with both hitting some big shots near the end of regulation and through the overtime periods.

Keanu Pinder (18 points, 14 rebounds, six assists) and Shannon Scott (12 points, 13 rebounds, six assists) were other big contributors.

The Taipans needed all of those players to fire to counter a massive performance from the Hawks' mid-season recruit Michael Frazier II.

The import scored a match-high 26 on 55 per cent field-goal shooting, making six of 10 threes and pulling down eight rebounds.

He had good support from Sam Froling and Tyler Harvey, who scored 22 and 21 respectively, with Peyton Siva adding 13 points and Deng Deng tallying 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Hawks scored the first four points and led 27-16 at quartertime, having already nailed five of seven long bombs.

They twice blew their advantage out to 16 in the second period, but Cairns got that back to three and were down by five by halftime.

Cairns continued their surge into the third quarter but it was the Hawks' turn to rally in the last as regulation finished with the scores locked at 87-87.

Both teams scored five in the first period of overtime, before Pinder made the final go-ahead bucket in the second stanza, with Siva missing a potential game-wining three at the end.

"It started out tough, but we've got a good core," McCall told ESPN.

"Everybody believes in each other, even when we're down we stick together. We're family so l'm proud of the guys."