West Sydney put their NBL season back on track with a gutsy 97-95 upset win over in-form Cairns at the State Sports Centre.

A game-high haul of 31 points by American guard Darnell Hinson helped the Razorbacks bounce back from two-straight losses that had halted a promising start to the season for last year's wooden spooners.

Fellow import Troy DeVries (15 points) was also superb for the Razorbacks while Gary Boodnikoff tried hard for Cairns with a 21-point contribution.

The Razorbacks (5-4) remain in sixth with the win, while the Taipans (5-4), who scored a 112-90 win over premiers Brisbane last week, drop to fifth.

The Taipans broke out to a 28-24 lead at quarter time after the Razorbacks had led for most of the period, thanks mainly to a ten-point contribution from Hinson.

Both sides then traded blows early in the second stanza but it was again Cairns who rounded out the quarter stronger, stretching out to 59-50 halftime lead.

The Razorbacks clawed their way back to within two points midway through the third quarter before Devries put the home side in the lead with two from outside the circle six minutes from the break.

West Sydney kicked on to a 84-80 lead at the final break, Hinson landing 13 points in the quarter.

In a tense final quarter the Razorbacks, spurred on by vocal home support, produced some desperate defence as Hinson kept their side of the scoreboard ticking over to hold on for the win.

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