Jordan Usher has made a spectacular debut to lead the Perth Wildcats back from conceding the first 12 points of the game to a season-opening 101-95 win against the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Usher got things rolling on Friday night at RAC Arena with 13 points in no time after Tasmania's sharp start.
Then late on, just as the JackJumpers roared back within a point in the final minute, he nailed his fourth triple of the game to seal the deal.
The 25-year-old forward out of Georgia Tech ended up with the highest-scoring Wildcats debut ever with 35 points.
Afterwards, he credited the 12,361 Perth fans for helping him bring the energy he did.
"I had fun and I like to have fun out there," Usher said.
"It's a lot different from playing in Turkey so I was excited, man. The Red Army's great and even when we didn't start how we wanted to start, they didn't leave us hanging.
"I'm an energetic guy and being able to have that extra energy source is a plus."
He received good help too, with triple MVP Bryce Cotton having 21 points and six assists with Corey Webster hitting 4/6 from deep too for 16 points.
Gun off-season signing Keanu Pinder added 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
There was plenty to like offensively for the JackJumpers with the ever-improving Jack McVeigh top-scoring with 22 points with four three-pointers.
Milton Doyle added 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and new point guard Jordon Crawford 13 points and four assists.
Tasmania coach Scott Roth took a positive view, saying: "I thought the game was fantastic.
"If you want to start the season anywhere on the road, this is the place to do it. I thought it was just a heck of a game to be playing in, very exciting, and I'm real proud of our guys. They fought all the way to the end."
The JackJumpers have made finals in their first two seasons and got off to a stunning start with the game's first dozen points inside three minutes.
The 'Cats worked back into it from there and it was Usher who led the charge. He hit two quick three-pointers and had 13 points in quick time to help his team take the lead.
A nasty Pinder dunk did open Perth's scoring and he collected Tasmania centre Marcus Lee to draw blood from his nose.
The athletic punch of Usher, Pinder and Next Star Alex Sarr then proved instrumental in the Wildcats leading 50-45 at the half.
The JackJumpers were back in front midway through the third quarter but when Usher landed a third three of the game, Perth were back up six to before leading by as much as 16 and holding on to win by six.
