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IN a game of extreme momentum shifts, Perth took care of business in New Zealand while three-time NBA champion and USA Olympic gold medallist Javale McGee made a stunning NBL debut with reigning champion Illawarra, visitor Tasmania still having the answers in front of a sell-out crowd in Wollongong.

The Hawks raised the club's historic second championship banner into the rafters in a pre-game ceremony before McGee went to work monstering or posterising Will Magnay, Kobe Williamson, Josh Bannan and Majok Deng en route to a (so far) season-high 32-point debut haul at 75 per cent.

He paired that with 13 rebounds, plus two assists, two steals and three blocks which should have been the foundation Illawarra needed to build a successful home win.

Instead it was the JackJumpers who negotiated their way around the keyway colossus as Bryce Hamilton (21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Tyger Campbell (17 points, 4 assists) and Deng (14 points) steered them to a memorable victory.

Magnay (7 points, 8 boards) and Bannan (11 points, 7 rebounds) also stood up in key moments after Anthony Drmic, promoted to a starter's role in the injury-forced absence of import David Johnson, struck three threes to have the Jackies jumping.

With William "Davo" Hickey still out and Jonah Bolden a late withdrawal, more fell onto the shoulders of back-up Hawks PG import Jaquori McLaughlin and Biwali Bayles, but it was Tyler Harvey (19 points) and veteran Todd Blanchfield (12 points) who offered McGee the best support.

Wrist and leg injuries to Bannan and Deng respectively may further undermine Tasmania's start unless they are less severe than first appeared, Illawarra meanwhile looking at better times ahead as key men return.

Earlier in Auckland, Breakers import star Parker Jackson-Cartwright looked his healthiest for the season as Perth coach John Rillie turned to Dontae Russo-Nance as his on-court general.

The big change for Perth was with Dylan Windler, barely even a passenger in the Wildcats' home loss opener, he was everywhere to finish with 20 points at 54 per cent, a career-best 15 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.

He energised the Wildcats, who again still under-utilised the potential dominance of centre Jo Lual-Acuil (21 points at 64 per cent, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks).

Relegated to the bench, when inserted Ben Henshall hit his first two shots, but from there finished 2-of-6.

Mason Jones went 0-of-8 before Rillie gave up - Elijah Pepper also an awful 1-of-7 - and sent Jaron Rillie into the fray. The younger JR was terrific, his late 3-pointer clinching the win.

With gun NZ import Izaiah Brockington experiencing his worst game, Rob Baker largely ignored and Rob Loe joining fellow veteran Reuben Te Rangi in Struggle Town, the Breakers were fortunate Jackson-Cartwright was solid, Karim Lopez adventurous and Izayah Le'Afa looking like he did when he first broke into the NBL at South East.

Le'Afa hit four threes in succession, two of them during a surge which swept New Zealand from 59-62 to 74-62, a 15-0 run. The match in the Breakers' keeping, Perth had other ideas as Kristian Doolittle, who had done very little, sprung to life in support of the relentless Windler.

Doolittle had 12 of his 16 points in the final period as Perth turned the tables in a 17-0 reply which swept it to a 79-74 lead. 

With just over a minute left and Perth ahead 81-78, Jaron Rille stroked his left-handed three and this one was laid to rest.

Round 2

Melbourne United 103 (Doyle 18, Walker 13, Krslovic 12, Ili, Krebs, Delany 10; Edwards 6 rebs; Walker 8 assts) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 83 (Sobey 26, Brown 12, Hunter 9; Gak, Glover 6 rebs; Maldonado 7 assts) at the UN, John Cain Arena. Crowd: 10,035

Cairns Taipans 83 (Schofield, McVeigh 19, Lee 12; McVeigh 9 rebs; McVeigh 9 assts) d Brisbane Bullets 82 (Harrison 22, Freeman-Liberty 21, Prather 18, Adams 12; Harrison, Freeman-Liberty 7 rebs; Adams 6 assts) at the Taipanadrome, Cairns Convention Centre. Crowd: 4,052

Perth Wildcats 89 (Lual-Acuil 21, Windler 20, Doolittle 16; Windler 15 rebs; Henshall, Doolittle 3 assts) d New Zealand Breakers 78 (Jackson-Cartwright 18, Lopez 16, Le'Afa 14; Mennenga, Lopez 7 rebs; Jackson-Cartwright 5 assts) at Spark Arena. Crowd: 4,047

Tasmania JackJumpers 91 (Hamilton 21, Campbell 17, Deng 14, Bannan 11, Drmic 10; Magnay 8 rebs; Campbell 4 assts) d Illawarra Hawks 86 (McGee 32, Harvey 19, Blanchfield 12; McGee 13 rebs; McLaughlin 6 assts) at The Sandpit, WIN Entertainment Centre. Crowd: 5,123