Melbourne United coach Dean Demopoulos says genuine happiness is his overriding emotion after watching his NBL team catapult themselves into the box seat for Championship success.
United are one win clear on top of the table after beating the second-placed Wildcats 91-85 in an overtime thriller at Perth Arena on Friday night.
The result gave Melbourne a 3-1 head-to-head edge over the Wildcats this season, meaning United will finish above Perth if the teams end up equal on wins.
Melbourne face Illawarra (away) and New Zealand (home and away) in their final three games.
Demopoulos conceded his team got an "old-fashioned ass kicking" during their only other visit to Perth this season - a 113-83 loss in December.
But the mood was vastly different on Friday night after his team showed true grit to hold off the Wildcats in front of a hostile crowd.
"My ass isn't sore," Demopoulos joked after the match.
"And it's not relief. I'm genuinely happy for these guys, man.
"It was a great ball game. It was probably the best basketball game I've been involved in in this country.
"To be where we are right now, I can honestly say, it's the first time I've actually felt really pleased with what we've accomplished to this date."
Demopoulos was quick to stress the job wasn't nearly done, especially with a tricky away clash to come against the potent Hawks on Thursday.
American guard Stephen Holt was the hero against the Wildcats, nailing 5-of-5 three-pointers in the first term on the way to a 33-point haul.
And the fighting spirit of former NBA power forward Hakim Warrick (14 points) was also a highlight.
Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson said the loss was a good wake-up call so close to the play-offs.
"We've got to get better. Our execution down the stretch was pretty bad," Gleeson said.
"We've got three games to tidy that up and finish the season strong."
Import Casey Prather shook off a hamstring niggle to score a team-high 17 points against Melbourne.
Gleeson is hopeful Prather will be able to back up for Friday night's home clash with the struggling Kings.
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