Basketball On The Internet.

BIG Nate took care of the scoring and Damo took the Wildcats soaring to an 82-76 Game 1 win in the NBL's Swisse Grand Final series.

Jawai held court at Perth Arena in a dominant keyway performance while Perth captain Damian Martin literally led his troops from the front.

CAN SCORE TOO: Damian Martin was inspirational for the Wildcats.

Never a noted scorer - although he did score Perth's opening basket and its last - Martin did the intangibles and worked his tail off defensively.

His block of Corey Webster's fast-break shot as the Breakers were surging in the last quarter was massive. He ripped the ball from a surrounded Cedric Jackson. He forced an 8-second backcourt violation. He knocked a long offensive board to a teammate. He just did all those little things that end up being a big thing - a 1-0 lead in the Grand Final.

Damo's stats line of 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, no turnovers and no fouls in 35 minutes is pretty dazzling. (How they have him for no steals - he ripped the ball right out of Jackson's hands!! - is a mystery.)

BACK IN BUSINESS: Nathan Jawai was as dominant as he's been all season.

Perth also was well-served by reliable Matt Knight, New Zealand still drawing quality play from Cedric Jackson, Mika Vukona, Charles Jackson and Webster, when he found his shot.

Who knows where Tom Abercrombie was all night and what Alex Pledger and Tai Wesley might have been worth if they hadn't run into Nate? 

The question now as the teams disembark from the flights across Australia from Perth to Auckland, is how will that impact on Jawai?

The Wildcats have been nursing him through a back injury and sitting in planes? It doesn't come highly recommended for that condition.

In the end, there just wasn't that much in it, which is why the series should go back to Perth for a decider on Sunday after tomorrow's Game 2 at North Shore Events Centre.

Game 1: PERTH WILDCATS 82 (Jawai 15, Knight 14, Prather, Wagstaff 11; Martin 10 rebs; Martin 5 assts) d NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 76 (Webster 19, Ce Jackson 14, Ch Jackson, Vukona 11; Ch Jackson 10 rebs; Ce Jackson 4 assts) at The Jungle, Perth Arena. Wildcats lead best-of-3 Swisse Final series 1-0.

PS

IN case you weren't paying attention, Adelaide 36ers officially have retained All Star Five First Teamer and the NBL's leading scorer, Jerome Randle, for 2016-17.