Cairns Taipans overcame an ice-cold two-point quarter to put Perth away in the opening match of their NBL semi-final series.

The minor premiership-winning Taipans were red-hot favourites to win the series opener on their home court against Perth, who finished fourth at the end of the regular season and lost with veteran forward Shawn Redhage to injury during the week, ruled out of the rest of the season due to stress fractures in his foot.

The Taipans started slowly with Perth taking an 18-16 advantage into the first break. With import guard Scottie Wilbekin calling the shots, Cairns regained the ascendancy in the second quarter to lead 43-40 at the half-time interval.

But then the home side could not find the basket. They managed just two points for the third quarter in an astonishing display of poor shooting from Cairns and excellent hard-nosed defence from the visitors.

The Wildcats led 48-45 after their 18-2 run in the third term and held a 58-55 buffer heading into the final three minutes.

But the Taipans delighted their parochial home crowd down the stretch, with a Wilbekin three-pointer triggering their strong finish. Alex Loughton hit a long bomb to give the Snakes a six-point lead with 1:24 left and the Wildcats never recovered.

Wilbekin finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds with Cameron Tragardh's 16-point effort and Stephen Weigh's 11-point haul their only other double-figure contributions.

Cairns coach Aaron Fearne could not explain the third-quarter meltdown.

"I'm extremely proud of the guys ... to score two points in a quarter and still get away with a win is impressive," he said.

Jermaine Beal top-scored for Perth with 20 points, well supported by fellow import DeAndre Daniels adding 14.

Perth coach Trevor Gleeson believes his team did not make the most of their chances to strike.

"We had our opportunities, and that's what you have to do on the road, you need to take those opportunities," he said.

The teams return to the floor in Perth on Sunday with game three to be held in Cairns on Tuesday if the Wildcats are successful in the second encounter.

"We get back home, get comfortable, sleep in our own beds, and we'll be ready Sunday," Gleeson said.

Perth's Drake U'u was ejected in the dying seconds for a hard foul on Taipans import Torrey Craig. He grabbed Craig with two hands as the Taipan flew to the basket for a breakaway dunk, sparking a scuffle involving several players from each team.

Fearne was blunt with his description of the play. "I'd be embarrassed myself. I'd be upset with my guys making a play like that. I'm sure Drake is disappointed in the play," he said.