Perth will play in their 31st consecutive NBL finals series, setting up a semi-finals date with Cairns courtesy of a 96-94 win over Melbourne in the last game of the regular season on Sunday.
The Wildcats and Taipans recorded two wins in a thrilling final round to qualify. In the other semi-final, minor premiers Adelaide will face fourth-placed Illawarra in the best-of-three series after conceding four successive losses.
Cairns, Perth and the Hawks each finished two wins behind Adelaide at 15-13, however the Taipans claimed second spot with a 5-3 series record between the three teams.
Perth's spot in the finals was not decided until Sunday.
After ending former ladder-leaders Sydney's season with a 101-74 flogging on Friday night, Perth appeared in trouble when they trailed Melbourne 57-50 in the third quarter.
But import Casey Prather fired them home, sinking 26 points and providing 11 assists before the Wildcats were forced to fight off a Melbourne comeback to complete their late-season revival, having been last on the ladder seven rounds ago.
"It feels bloody good," coach Trevor Gleeson said.
"It's been a good challenge for us to go through all our adversaries with our injuries, charges and change of imports.
"But we've booked a ticket in the big dance and we're ready to go."
The result meant New Zealand were eliminated from the finals, who had earlier ended Melbourne's hopes with an 88-70 win on Friday.
The Wildcats enter the playoffs series with a 3-1 season advantage over Cairns, but will face a Taipans team who are the form side of the competition.
They twice defeated Adelaide to secure a return to the NBL finals, winning six of their last seven after also being at the bottom of the ladder last month.
Their 89-85 win over the 36ers on Thursday night marked the first time they had a positive win-loss record all season, before beating them again on the road 98-89 on Saturday.
Retiring forward Mark Worthington was instrumental in the final quarter on Saturday. He sunk back-to-back threes, made two steals and a block as the Taipans wrapped up second spot on the ladder.
Meanwhile, Illawarra secured their finals spot when they easily accounted for last-placed Brisbane in Wollongong on Saturday.
Andrew Ogilvy (22 points and six rebounds) and Rotnei Clarke (24 points and six assists) sent an ominous warning to their rivals in the 106-79 flogging.
"If AJ can play like that, we're right in this," coach Rob Beveridge said of Ogilvy.
"He's had such an up and down season, but we need him to perform for us and tonight he was dominant."
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