Dylan Windler was a match-winner for the Perth Wildcats but was full of praise for his inspirational captain and can't wait to see how the 'Cats grow with Brandon Knight now on board, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to return and as they hit the road.

Windler was happy to stay as far out from the three-point line as he could at RAC Arena on Saturday night on his way to hitting 7/12 from downtown for 32 points in just under 30 minutes as the Wildcats made it four straight beating the shorthanded New Zealand Breakers 100-84.

It was a night where much of the focus was on the debut of 451-game NBA veteran guard Brandon Knight, who had six points, two rebounds and two steals on 2/6 shooting with five turnovers and 19:31 of court time.

But in the end, the story of the win was the usual 'Cats suspects including another 25 point from Elijah Pepper, Kristian Doolittle having a strong all-round game with five points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and then Windler and Wagstaff.

The captain is the games record holder and turned 40 this off-season, but Wagstaff continues to have a huge impact and finished the game with 13 points, six assists and four rebounds with 2/3 three-point shooting to be +24 in his 17 minutes.

Windler offered him the highest of praise afterwards.

"I can say with confidence that he's probably the best teammate I've ever had in terms of leadership, starring in his role, competing and just showing up and working hard every day," Windler said.

"All around, he just helps the team win in all those ways. It's not going to be one or the other every single night, but he's just steady and consistent, a leader, a presence for us in the locker room and he's always locked in on the scout and the little things.

"He's always willing to make and take big shots, he's willing to do all the little things and make the nitty gritty plays.

"He always seems to be in the right moment at the right spot at the right time. I can't say enough good stuff about him, he's the ultimate teammate and winner for sure."

After a rough start to NBL27 losing at home to South East Melbourne by 21 points, the 'Cats have built nicely with a pair of RAC Arena wins against the Breakers intertwined with beating the Adelaide 36ers and then getting revenge on the Phoenix.

Perth are now 4-1 with Jaron Rillie just being back for two games, Knight having just debuted and with Lual-Acuil Jr to still return.

Windler is high on the team's potential, but now looks forward to seeing how they handle the road starting on Saturday night in Sydney against the Kings.

"It's definitely an encouraging start to the season having a lot of different line-ups and a lot of guys have been given opportunity, and they've made the best of that," Windler said.

"I don't think the season truly starts until you play a road game so let's not get ahead of ourselves, it's obviously a great start to be 4-1, and it's just been good to see a lot of different guys contribute.

"I think that makes the best teams is when you have a lot of different guys that can be dangerous on any different night, and right now I think we have that.

"We have a lot of guys in good form and obviously we have Jo out and guys getting back in rhythm with Jaron and Brandon now, and I think we're going to be a dangerous team as long as we can stay healthy. I think we're going to be a really good team."

The one thing that separates Windler from your average shooter is the range that he has and how the further he gets away from the three-point line (within reason), the more likely he is to knock the shot down.

He also lives with the knowledge that the further out he takes his shot, the less pressure from his defender he will receive so it'll be a more comfortable shot to take.

And then he has nights like he had on Saturday where he caught fire spectacularly in the fourth quarter with four of his seven three-pointers for the game and 18 of his 32 points.

It's a rhythm that you rarely get in a game, but it's something all the work you do is to get yourself ready for.

"I guess the whole second half (feeling good) and I made a couple early in the second half, and was just able to find good, clean looks I guess," Windler said.

"The further out you are the harder it is to guard, so I just stay out there and get open looks. That's what you shoot all the shots up in practice for your whole life, to just try and find a rhythm like that in a game.

"You never know when it's gonna come, but you just gotta be ready for the moment and keep shooting your shots. When you get in a rhythm like that, it's fun and as a shooter, that's what you play for."

The best aspect of the start of the Wildcats to have now won their past four matches is that they have done it by committee.

Elijah Pepper is playing the best basketball of his life to start NBL27 but then you have Anthony Dell'Orso and Kristian Doolittle as versatile playmakers and scorers now with the threat of Brandon Knight added in and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr to return.

Windler is sure that's what is helping them perform so well because with everyone a scoring threat out on the floor, it's making them hard for opposition teams to defend.

"I think the hardest teams to guard are the ones that have multiple shooters and guys that can go off for 20-plus any given night," Windler said.

"Pep was doing a really good job of getting downhill and making two guys guard the ball, and was just making the right play time after time.

"It was just leading to me having wide open shots so it's a credit to Pep making the right pass, but the same with Delly, Doo and Pep himself who are all threats in that ball-screen action that I come and set.

"You've got to pick one or the other and it makes it hard to guard both guys in that action."

Chris Pike

Windler's high praise for ageless captain