Nick Kay produced one of his best returns of the season to help the Perth Wildcats pip the New Zealand Breakers 80-79 in a thriller on Saturday night.
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The Tamworth native collected 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for his second double-double in three games, as the Cats claimed their third consecutive win and probably a spot in another finals campaign.
He was their third-top contributor for the night behind Bryce Cotton and Miles Plumtree (both 23 points).
The latter showed why the Wildcats made the move to grab him with a stunning NBL performance against the Breakers, the former NBA centre controlling the key at both ends of RAC Arena.
The Breakers trailed by 10 points early in the final quarter, but Brandon Ashley and Jarrad Weeks continued to make some big plays. They had possession for the last few seconds of the game.
But they were disorganised in those dying seconds, unable to take a time-out. A Finn Delaney pass was cut off by Terrico White, ending the Breakers two-game winning streak and potentially their hopes of playing finals.
The Breakers were coming off wins against Sydney and Melbourne, but Plumlee was just too big a hurdle for them to overcome.
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He entered double-double territory early in the third term and finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and an impressive highlight reel of dunks.
With Kay also on fire, the Wildcats appeared well in control.
But New Zealand continued to push.
Ashley impressed with 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Delaney hit 16 points.
Cotton had looked like he was in for a big night when he dropped 16 points for Perth in the first term and the reigning premiers led by 11 during the quarter.
But Henry and Tom Abercrombie closed down on the champions after the break after, which they went into just six points down after a Weeks buzzer-beater from long distance.
Cats coach Trevor Gleeson thinks the close call was a good thing for his side as the playoffs close in.
"New Zealand, if they didn't have the injuries they had, they are a playoff team; they are playing sensationally.
"Melbourne (who the Cats play on Wednesday) are going to be hungry and then Sydney, so it's a good run in for us playing against quality teams before the playoffs."
Australian Associated Press
