A clutch fourth-quarter performance from Bryce Cotton has inspired Perth Wildcats to a stunning 106-99 comeback victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix in a dramatic start to the NBL’s inaugural play-in tournament.

South East Melbourne led for the majority of Thursday night’s sudden-death play-in qualifier at John Cain Arena but Perth bounced back from a 13-point deficit in the final quarter to end the Phoenix’s season in spectacular fashion.

The Wildcats scored 41 points in the fourth quarter to run over the top of the Phoenix, league MVP finalist Cotton firing in 20 points for the term with Perth’s season on the line, while Mitch Norton and Luke Travers also made vital baskets in the closing stages.

Trey Kell III gave the home side a glint of hope when his three-pointer closed Perth’s lead to three points in the final minute but Ryan Broekhoff could not connect on a game-tying triple with 30 seconds to play and TaShawn Thomas iced the game from the free-throw line.

Cotton recovered from a 1-of-9 shooting effort in the first half to finish with a game-high 26 points while Brady Manek drilled six three-pointers in his 24-point haul.

Up from below and behind

After scraping into the final post-season berth by defeating minor premiers Sydney in the last game of the regular season, the Wildcats will now face off against the loser of the Cairns v Tasmania seeding qualifier in Sunday’s play-in game for the right to face the Kings in a best-of-three playoff series.

The Wildcats made a bright start but lost momentum once Luke Travers limped to the bench with an ankle problem, Gary Browne’s perimeter shooting helping South East Melbourne pile on 13 straight points.

Manek’s three-point accuracy prevented the Phoenix from building a large lead but the home side managed to build a 22-18 buffer by the end of the first quarter after restricting Perth to 28 per cent shooting from the field.

Travers provided a much-needed boost for Perth when he returned to the action in the second period, combining with Manek to put the visitors back in front midway through the quarter, but Browne drained a jump shot on the halftime buzzer to see the Phoenix maintain a four-point lead at the main break.

-AAP