It was probably more luck than skill but Jackson's half-court heave, as the buzzer rang on the second period of overtime, propelled the Breakers to a 89-87 victory in stunning circumstances across the Tasman tonight.
Perth's Jermaine Beal (24 points) hit two free throws with only a few seconds left to give the Wildcats a 87-86 lead. Jackson then took the inbound ball, threw up the Hail Mary and somehow the Breakers escaped with a win in their penultimate game of the regular season.
The Breakers, who are assured of a spot in the top two, came in to the contest on the back of three losses from their past four games, while they also had a quick turnaround after being tipped over 93-88 by a red-hot Adelaide outfit in Auckland on Thursday night.
Perth and New Zealand share one of the more intriguing rivalries in the ANBL as they are bonded by long road trips to play each other, while they have also clashed regularly in the playoffs during the past few years. This game was another chapter in that book.
The game was delayed half an hour due to traffic issues in Perth and the Breakers arrived at the arena 55 minutes later than scheduled.
After a dour opening, halftime greeted the sides as the Breakers held a 35-32 lead but both teams, who could meet in the playoffs in two weeks, shot less than 35 per cent from the floor in the first half.
The Wildcats, spurred on by a home crowd of 12,000, started the third period with gusto as they chopped the Breakers' lead down.
Breakers centre Ekene Ibekwe, who eventually fouled out during the first period of overtime, finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.
The scores were level at 62 as the game entered the final four minutes. Both sides were struggling with their shooting as the playoff-style defence was on display at both ends of the floor.
With 10 seconds left in regulation time, the scores were locked at 68 each but Jackson's potential game-winner didn't fall and extra minutes were needed.
The first overtime went back and forth and Beal hit a buzzer-beat to send it to another extra period at 80-all. Beal's freebies nearly did it in the second period of OT before Jackson's miracle stole the show.
DeAndre Daniels had 24 points for Perth, while Corey Webster had a career-high 27 for the Breakers.
The Breakers will finish the regular season with a home outing against Cairns at Vector Arena on Sunday.
New Zealand Breakers 89 (Corey Webster 27, Cedric Jackson 22) Perth Wildcats 87 (Jermaine Beal 27, DeAndre Daniels 27) 1Q: 18-16, halftime: 35-32, 3Q: 48-55, 4Q: 68-68, 1OT: 80-80
by Daniel Richardson of NZME. News Service
