Keanu Pinder was heartbroken to miss last year's NBL Finals but delivered a match-winning display to lead the Perth Wildcats to an 89-81 win in game one of the NBL playoff series 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.
But he made up for lost time in a tight and tense battle on Friday night at RAC Arena in Perth.
Precious little separated both teams all night with the contest a physical one accompanied by 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, forcing John Rillie to call 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 by the 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 halftime, 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.
"It was a very good performance tonight but we can't relax," Wildcats coach Rillie 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).
"It was a hell of a game and fun to be in," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth 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."
Game two will be in Hobart on Monday night.
