In front of nearly 13,000 fans for the last home game of the regular season, the Wildcats’ dominated after half-time to book their semi-final place.
Three-time MVP Bryce Cotton returned to his brilliant best with 26 points, while Kristian Doolittle (15 points and 10 rebounds) and Alex Sarr (14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks) posted double-doubles.
The introduction of Jordan Usher and Sarr into the game midway through brought plenty of energy at both ends of the floor to help Perth turn things around after a slow start.
Usher continued to make the most of his time on the court, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds and three steals.
From 21-14 down early on, the Wildcats evened the ledger at 30-apiece at quarter-time as Doolittle ran amok with 10 first-quarter points including a massive one-handed dunk.
Cotton came to life in the second quarter with a couple of huge three-pointers in an ominous warning for the Taipans.
Sam Waardenburg was damaging from outside the arc for Cairns on the way to a game-high 19 first-half points with scores once again tied at 57-all at the main break.
The Taipans cut the margin back to just two points early in the final quarter before back-to-back dunks from Pinder and Usher respectively swung the momentum in the home side’s favour.
With Waardenburg injured and Lat Mayen and Bul Kuol fouled out, Perth’s lead grew to double digits and it was party time.
Import Patrick Miller played a lone hand once Waardenburg’s night was over with lower-leg soreness, finishing with a team-high 25 points.
With two minutes left and more than 20 points the difference, youngsters Ben Henshall, Michael Harris, David Okwera and popular guard Kyle Zunic got some court time, much to the delight of the Red Army.
The Wildcats finish their regular season with a road double against Illawarra (on Thursday) and Tasmania (on Saturday).
