Cairns Taipans booked their spot in the NBL playoffs with a come from behind 116-95 win over Wollongong Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre.

A dominant 38-14 final quarter gave the Taipans their 15th win of the season, enough to shut the door on the last season charge mounted by the Adelaide 36ers.

Wollongong's final quarter meltdown was as much to do with their own poor play as it was the slick form of their opposition.

With import Jared Newson (24 points) and NBA hopeful Nathan Jawai (20) leading the way the Taipans shut the Hawks out in emphatic style over the final six minutes.

Cairns had looked like anything but a team playing for their playoff lives in the first quarter.

They lacked intensity and if not for 11 first quarter points from Jawai, they would have been facing a far larger deficit than the 33-22 scoreline staring at them.

Things didn't get any better for the Taipans in the second term.

Hawks centre Larry Davidson, who came into the match averaging 10.5 points per game, had 17 points on eight for nine shooting in the first half.

As well as dominating at the offensive end, Davidson wasn't afraid to physically mix it with the opposition.

He was involved in separate confrontations with both Jawai and Martin Cattalini, standoffs which both attracted double fouls.

Everything Cairns lacked in the first half they had in the second.

Their defence limited the Hawks to just 33 points, while their offence clicked into gear.

Jawais' seventh dunk of the night with nine minutes remaining gave Cairns a 87-85 lead.

Within four minutes that lead was out to nine points and the game was as good as over.

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