An awesome individual display from Perth big man Matt Burston guided the Wildcats to a morale-boosting 117-111 NBL win over Townsville at Challenge Stadium.

The 21 year-old centre scored 35 points, notching up his 1000th career point in the NBL along the way, and inspired a home side struggling with injuries, including a serious one to Burston himself.

In a topsy-turvy game that at times had both coaches scratching their heads, Townsville led by five at the main break, only for Burston to explode with 17 points in the third quarter and a further ten in the last.

A contentious tech foul on Crocs import Casey Calvary late in the fourth quarter finally turned the tide the Wildcats' way, with former Townsville favourite Peter Crawford delivering the coup de grace with four successive free throws to end the contest.

The Wildcats were dealt a massive blow before the game when star import Rashad Tucker was ruled out, his troublesome knee unable to cope with two games in six days.

With Burston's ankle nowhere near 100 per cent and playmaker Ricky Grace being nursed through the game with a knee problem, Wildcats coach Scott Fisher was forced to test the depth of his new-look squad.

Townsville coach Ian Stacker had no such problems, with Calvary sinking the first five points as the visitors streaked into a 10-point lead.

A spray from the courtside announcer, and running repairs to the home side's hoop, seemed to have the desired effect with a Crawford three pointer and block within seconds of each other sparking a comeback.

Another three from Crawford and a Grace lay-up gave the Wildcats a lead they scarcely deserved, before four baskets without reply from Derek Moore gave the Crocs their five point halftime cushion.

An impromptu appearance at half time from former Perth great James Crawford gave the home side the impetus to quickly wipe out the lead, with Burston single-handedly keeping Perth in touch.

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