Nick Kay netted 14 points in the Wildcats' 88-86 defeat of the Kings in game one of the grand final series in Sydney on Sunday.
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The star forward has been in sensational form, and was Perth's second top scorer behind MVP guard Bryce Cotton (32 points).
Kay, a Tamworth native, also had six rebounds and three assists.
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Perth will host Sydney in game two on Friday.
Shooting for back-to-back championships and the club's 10th overall - more than double the next best in NBL history - the Wildcats trailed for most of the first half but produced down the stretch in a dramatic final term to go 1-0 up in the best-of-five series.
The 27-year-old Cotton went into the game averaging 33 points against the Kings this season and he continued to haunt the home side: 18 of his 32 points came in the first half.
He also pulled in six rebounds and added four assists in another man-of-the-match performance.
Mr Consistency Kay provided valuable assistance, while centre Miles Plumlee added 10 points and seven boards in a tantalising battle with Andrew Bogut.
Any thoughts of Bogut (18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists) being a spent force in the grand final series were dispelled despite the Kings' defeat. He was his team's best player with 18 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
Despite struggling largely through physical ailments in the second half of the season, the 35-year-old NBA championship winner and No. 1 draft pick registered his first double-double since round 14.
Kings skipper Kevin Lisch returned to top form, scoring 17 points, while Shaun Bruce and Jae'Sean Tate added 11 each and Xavier Cooks grabbed 11 boards.
A frantic start to the match was highlighted by the skill of the MVPs - this season's winner Cotton, who had 10 points for the quarter, and Bogut, who was a major presence in the middle with seven points.
SYDNEY KINGS 86 (Bogut 18, Lisch 17, Tate 11, Bruce 11)
PERTH WILDCATS 88 (Cotton 32, Kay 14, Plumlee 10)
