Nick Kay has again starred for the Wildcats - sinking a career-high five threes, including one that sent the match into overtime, as the reigning champions beat Cairns 108-107 in their opening semi-final clash in Perth on Friday night.
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Kay's 23 points extended to six his record run of consecutive games of at least 20 points. He also had nine rebounds and six assists.
MVP Bryce Cotton had a game-high 42 points for Perth.
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Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson said: "I thought he [Cotton] was outstanding. I thought Nick was outstanding as well. They played a lot of minutes in the second half trying to get [us] back [in the contest]. They did an excellent job."
Kay has added more potent shooting to his repertoire this season, making an incredible 46 per cent of his long-range shots. He sunk five of six three-point attempts against the Taipans, who will attempt to stay alive when they host Perth on Sunday.
After a tough second quarter, the Wildcats found themselves down by a nine points at the half.
Both teams traded blows all night. Cotton made a career-high 10 threes, an equal high for an NBL final and an equal high by a Wildcat. The Wildcats knocked down 20 threes, an equal high for an NBL final.
"There's some big shots to be made," Gleeson said. "Bryce wants the ball in his hands and can make it under pressure. That's why he is who he is."
Perth 108 (Cotton 42, Kay 23, Norton 12)
Cairns 107 (Macahdo 31, Newbill 25, Oliver 19)
