Perth Wildcats have returned to the NBL finals series after an extraordinary final day which saw them overcome the odds to beat Sydney Kings by 12 points at RAC Arena.

And Luke Travers has announced himself as a big occasion star after producing 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead his team to a 96-84 victory.

In an extraordinary finish to the season, Perth entered the match knowing only a victory by at least 11 points would get them into the finals. The Kings hadn’t lost by that much all season.

They led by 23 points during the final quarter, Sydney got the margin back to single figures and then the Wildcats got the job done in the dying seconds.

Perth’s destiny was dictated by Melbourne’s game against Adelaide before tip-off. United led by only two points with 15 seconds remaining but won the match by nine points thanks to a Rajon Tucker three-pointer on the buzzer.

The Wildcats always knew they had to win by two points more than Melbourne to overtake their percentage.

The game had everything. In a potentially season-changing controversy, Travers was denied a three-point basket late in the second quarter after it was deemed Xavier Cooks tipped the ball after it hit the rim. The change was made during the half-time break and left coach John Rillie flabbergasted.

Kings import Derrick Walton Jr sat out the game for the Kings with a wrist injury, but Cooks returned after being rested on Friday.

With Craig Hutchison and Paul Smith from the respective ownership teams watching from opposite side of the court, Perth missed eight of their nine three-point shots in the first quarter and trailed by five points at the first break.

The Wildcats suffered a huge blow when TaShawn Thomas injured his right knee just eight minutes into the contest, leaving them vulnerable under the basket.

But Thomas returned to the game midway through the second period and had an instant defensive impact.

Then Travers stepped up to turn the match. The NBA draftee scored seven points and won three rebounds for the quarter as Perth raced to a four-point lead at the long break.

Perth reached the crucial milestone of 11 points late in the third quarter just as Jackson Makoi was helped from the court with a right ankle injury.

The lead extended to 14 points moments later and the Wildcat took a 12 points lead to the final break.

And then the Wildcats went on a run. When Thomas made a floater with 7:44 remaining, Perth led by 18 points and 12,712 fans at RAC Arena went crazy. Such is the rivalry between the teams, the Kings refused to take their key players from court as the margin hit 23 points and even called for a coach’s challenge with 26 seconds remaining a they surged.

Corey Webster had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists, Brady Manek produced 21 points and nine rebounds, plus the two free throws which got the Wildcats to the margin they needed.

Cotton had a uncharacteristically quiet night with only nine points after making only two of his 20 shots.

Cooks finished with 15 points from 28 minutes on court and missed six free throws.

The Wildcats missed the finals for the first time in 35 years last year and the endured a turbulent off-season. But they are back in the finals and will face South East Melbourne Phoenix in a knock-out clash later this week.