Import Dylan Windler has put on a shooting clinic as the Perth Wildcats absorbed a 40-point masterclass from Sam Mennenga to consolidate third spot on the NBL ladder with a 100-84 victory over the New Zealand Breakers.
Windler posted 18 of his team-high 32 points in a commanding fourth quarter at Perth's RAC Arena on Saturday night to pace the Wildcats' fourth straight win.
Windler netted 7-of-12 three-pointers, while teammate Elijah Pepper added 25 points for Perth.
"I liked how we fought to find good rhythm, and it took us until the fourth (quarter)," Wildcats coach John Rillie said.
"When you get guys who are capable of making high-level shots and busting open a game, we did a good job of finding the hot hand in those moments."
Powerhouse Mennenga hit 5-of-8 triples in his career-best virtuoso, and pulled down 18 rebounds for the Breakers, who were without gun playmaker Parker Jackson-Cartwright, set to miss several weeks with a lower-leg injury.
Mennenga was a tour de force from the outset, racking up 17 points and seven rebounds in a monstrous first quarter, to give NZ a 22-21 edge.
The Breakers continued feeding Mennenga, who had 25 of his side's first 33 points.
The big fella already had 11 rebounds by halftime to give NZ a whopping 26-17 advantage on the boards, but the Wildcats, largely through Pepper, held firm.
His layup off a NZ turnover capped a 7-0 finish to the half to put Perth in front 41-38.
The Wildcats opened the third period with four triples without a miss to pull further clear 53-43.
The omnipresent Mennenga spearheaded a 12-2 response to level the scores, before the home side eased back ahead 70-66 at three-quarter-time.
It was all Perth from that point.
Windler was in the zone, drilling four treys in a stunning final term, which the Wildcats won 30-18, while turnovers mounted for the Breakers, sorely missing their floor general Jackson-Cartwright.
Perth's former NBA point guard Brandon Knight had six points and five turnovers in his NBL debut.
"I thought our effort was there for a good 30 minutes," Mennenga said.
"We stayed in it, but we need 40 minutes of good basketball to win games."
