The Perth Wildcats have defeated the Gold Coast Blaze 85-70 in the first game of their National Basketball League semi-final series in Perth on Sunday night.
The Wildcats led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and they cruised to the 15-point victory with a dominant performance at both ends of the court.
While Perth avoided the trap New Zealand fell into against Townsville on Thursday by taking care of their home-court advantage, the Blaze did beat the Wildcats twice at home during the regular season.
And with their talent-filled roster sure to come out firing on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast, the best-of-three series is still very much alive.