A fired-up Kristian Doolittle has burst back to life as Perth overpowered Tasmania on the road to stay in touch with the NBL's top four.
The Wildcats had lost three of their last four and the import had scored just five, eight and four points in his past three outings.
But "playing pissed off and with a point to prove", Doolittle exploded with 30 points and six rebounds in Sunday's 94-85 win over the JackJumpers.
He found his range from deep in the first half before a fierce dunk and a pair of free throws from successive plays late in the fourth quarter took the heat out of the host's comeback.
In his third NBL season, Doolittle is averaging a career-best 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds across 20 games.
"I'm very competitive and sometimes my own worst enemy when things aren't going right," Doolittle said, crediting his stat line to more time on the training court.
"I just wanted to be someone that could be counted on."
Coach John Rillie said it was his job to "massage" that emotion and challenged his men to replicate the effort after a series of disappointing home losses.
"It's finding that balance in moments and that's what he's been searching for," he said.
"When Doolittle shows up and plays, that's really good for us.
"As this team evolves we start to figure things out - who we are, what we need in different situations - and that was a step forward tonight."
The visitors led at every break and pushed the margin to 15 points with five minutes to play before Bryce Hamilton (25 points, seven-of-10 triples, six rebounds, four assists) threatened to carry his side home.
Centre Will Magnay (six points) managed just 16 minutes after drawing three first-half fouls in a blow for Tasmania, who still out-rebounded Perth 44-36.
But constant turnovers were lethal as the Wildcats improved to 11-9 to keep the pressure on Sydney (10-7), who were sitting fourth ahead of Sunday night's clash with Cairns.
The JackJumpers' struggles at home continued as they fell to 8-11 to sit narrowly ahead of a crowded bottom-half of the ladder.
Josh Bannan (18 points, nine rebounds) kept the hosts close with regular buckets in the first half.
But Perth had more contributors, with David Duke Jnr (16 points, five assists, four steals) and Elijah Pepper (10 points) making impactful cameos.
"They were just better than us; more physical and stayed on track for 40 minutes," Tasmania coach Scott Roth said before tipping his cap to Doolittle.
"I think he's the best player in the league, hands down. Does it at all levels.
"He was a difference maker throughout the entire game. The way he plays is probably my favourite non-JackJumper."
The Wildcats will fly home with an injury concern, after Dylan Windler stepped on a foot and rolled his ankle, forcing him out of the game in the final quarter.