Perth Wildcats’ grand final dreams will rest on winning a home semifinal against Tasmania on Wednesday after they lost to the JackJumpers in Hobart on Monday night.

The Wildcats will return home hoping to lock in a grand final berth after Tasmania levelled the best-of-three series with a 102-94 win at MyState Bank Arena.

The Wildcats were left to rue a poor night of three-point shooting as they made only five of their 25 attempts and also had to deal with several big names getting into foul trouble.

Wildcats coach John Rillie said the match summed up why play-offs are hard to win.

“That’s play off basketball. That’s what the first two games have been. Game three – let’s go,” he said.

“The other night we made the plays. Tonight they made the plays. I do think we got some good looks. We didn’t capitalise in those times. They did. It’s two great teams trying to fight their way to a grand final.”

Tension was high after Tasmania’s import Marcus Lee received a one-match ban for unduly rough play on Jordan Usher in game one.

The crowd got heavily involved and the start of the game was tense before both teams eventually settled.

Perth started better with their offence constantly put the home team under pressure and the defence causing turnovers. The Wildcats had 14 free throws in the first quarter and broke clear by 12 points.

The game changed in the second quarter as Perth’s shots refused to drop and Tasmania reduced the deficit to just one point.

Cotton then found his groove as Alex Sarr became a massive defensive headache and the Wildcats moved 11 points clear again.

But the game swung when Keanu Pinder, Kristian Doolittle and Jesse Wagstaff all found themselves in foul trouble and Tasmania took over in the final quarter.

PInder also copped a blow to the face but Rillie said that wasn’t a factor in him struggling to have an impact.

“He just got into some foul trouble,” Rillie said.

“When you get in early foul trouble, sometimes it’s hard to find a rhythm in the game. The other night, in game one, he was in a great rhythm because he was out there getting up and down. It’s a rhythm game and he just couldn’t find it tonight.

“We had a couple of games throughout the regular season where it kind of mirrored that. You’re trying to manage guys with fouls but then you’re trying to find a rhythm and a continuity. It’s just not with the bigs on the floor, it is how they’re in sync with the perimeter players as well.”

Cotton led the way for Perth with 26 points and three steals. Sarr had four blocks as a defensive weapon Doolittle had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Doyle scored 24 points for Tasmania while Jack McVeigh produced 22 points. Will Magnay and Majok Deng were also prominent for the home team.

Wednesday night will also decide the other semifinal series with Melbourne United and Illawarra Hawks also set to play in Victoria.