The New Zealand Breakers are into the Australian National Basketball League finals for the first time after beating Perth 99-83 in game three in Auckland.
The Breakers lost the opening match at the North Shore Events Centre last Thursday and had to beat the defending champions in Perth on Sunday to set up the home decider.
Perth led through the first quarter but the Breakers took the lead two minutes into the second and seldom looked as if they would relinquish it.
The Wildcats restricted Kirk Penney to 18 points, while Gary Wilkinson top scored with 20 and CJ Bruton got 17.
Tensions erupted briefly early in the final quarter when the Wildcats import Andre Brown was sent off after a scuffle with the Breakers forward Mika Vukona.
The Breakers led by seven at the time and were never in trouble after that.
Game one of the best of three finals series is in Auckland next Wednesday against Townsville or Cairns, who meet in the other semi-final decider on Sunday.
