Pinder shines as Wildcats go one up

Keanu Pinder was heartbroken to miss last year's NBL Finals and delivered a match-winning display to lead the Perth Wildcats to 89-81 Game 1 Playoff Series win against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Pinder was forced to sit out the run for the Cairns Taipans last season with his facial injury that will mean he wears a mask the rest of his career. He made up for lost time in a tight and tense battle for Perth against Tasmania on Friday night at RAC Arena.

Precious little separated both teams all night with a margin of no more than nine points with the contest a physical one with plenty of whistles along the way.

It didn't take away from the spectacle and the fourth quarter was full of drama beginning with consecutive three balls from Jack McVeigh (17 points) for the JackJumpers.

Marcus Lee (16 points) then scored back-to-back buckets and the visitors were up six and John Rillie needed a quick timeout for Perth.

Pinder led the 'Cats back into the contest with two more three balls on his way to making a career-best five for the game for 25 points and seven rebounds. He also had a monster one-handed dunk over Lee.

After a first quarter dominated with 19 fouls called between both teams and Perth taking 15 free-throws alone, it took both Bryce Cotton and Milton Doyle until the second term to hit their first field goals.

By half-time, Perth narrowly led 46-43 and the Wildcats were clinging to a four-point lead at three quarter-time before the hot final term start from Tasmania.

After the JackJumpers went up six, the Wildcats scored 15 of the next 19 points, and iced the game at the foul line to end up going 29-of-32 for the game at the stripe.

Four-time MVP Cotton had just 15 points on 3-of-12 shooting for Perth, but Jordan Usher had 11 points, Hyrum Harris nine points, six rebounds and three assists, Kristian Doolittle nine points and five boards, and Next Star Alex Sarr nine points and three blocks.

Perth coach Rillie was pleased after the win but knows the job isn’t done.

"It was a very good performance tonight but we can't relax," he said.

"It's a series so we can't get too carried away with it, we held home court advantage for now."

Jordon Crawford finished with 19 points and three assists for Tasmania but they needed more from Doyle (12 points, six assists on 4-of-16 shooting) and Will Magnay (eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks).

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was as philosophical as ever afterwards.

"It was a hell of a game and fun to be in," he said.

"I thought our guys played well on the road here and we did get down a few times, but came right back.

"Then in the last five minutes we just didn’t make enough plays and the energy plays that they made turned the tide.

"A few boxouts and poor possessions offensively is enough in the playoffs when you get down to these critical moments."

Game 2 will be in Hobart on Monday night.

HUNGRY JACKS NBL PLAYOFFS GAME 1 

PERTH WILDCATS 89 (Pinder 25, Cotton 15, Usher 11)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Crawford 19, McVeigh 17, Lee 16) 

BOX SCORE