Perth Wildcats have taken a major step towards securing a berth in the NBL’s new Play-In Tournament after easing past Adelaide 36ers 112-97 in the first open-air game to be played in Western Australia.

The home side thrived with the roof open at RAC Arena on Saturday as they marked the occasion with their best offensive performance this season to consolidate fifth spot on the NBL ladder with a 12-10 record.

Perth steamrolled the Sixers in the opening 20 minutes as they poured in 67 points to take an imposing 21-point advantage into the main break.

They then led by as many as 32 in the second half before resting their starters in the fourth quarter with the result in hand.

Brady Manek sparked the Wildcats with his deadly long-range shooting, the American forward matching Bryce Cotton with a team-high 23 points, while Corey Webster and TaShawn Thomas added 17 points apiece.

The Wildcats had little trouble adjusting to the open-air conditions by shooting at 63 per cent from the field and making nine of their first 11 three-point attempts in the first half to leave the visitors reeling.

“We played some nice basketball there in the first half. Our defence was solid, we really just shared the ball and played with great pace on offence and everyone got to share in it,” said coach John Rillie after Perth completed back-to-back home wins following Tuesday’s three-point victory over New Zealand.

“It was beautiful to watch.”

Perth’s hot shooting continued after the main break, Manek connecting on 6 of 9 triples as the Wildcats finished the night with 15-of-27 from beyond the arc.