Deng, Bannan lead JackJumpers fight in Perth

The Tasmania JackJumpers fought valiantly led by a combined 55 points and 20 rebounds from front court duo Majok Deng and Josh Bannan, but the Perth Wildcats did just enough for the 101-95 win at RAC Arena.

It was the start of a gruelling weekend on opposite sides of the country for the JackJumpers in Perth on Friday and then hosting the early game on Sunday against Sydney, but they threw everything into it all evening despite the on-going absence of championship veterans Will Magnay and Anthony Drmic.

The JackJumpers started on fire leading 13-4 early and continued to shoot impressively all first quarter going 65 per cent from the field and 6/10 from deep but it was the Wildcats leading 32-28 with 10 free-throw attempts to zero.

Perth would end up taking the first 15 foul shots of the game with Tasmania not getting to the line until Bryce Hamilton was fouled five minutes into the second quarter.

The Wildcats had 19 free-throw attempts to three at half-time to be leading 57-52 with both teams putting in impressive shooting performances. Then try as they might, the JackJumpers could never quite get back in front in the second half with the home team winning by six.

The performance of big men Deng and Bannan was outstanding for the JackJumpers in the absence of captain Will Magnay. Deng hit four three-pointers on his way to 26 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in 34:53 of court time.

Bannan also played 34:44 and ended the night with 29 points, nine rebounds and two assists on the back of 12/20 field goal shooting.

Bryce Hamilton was limited to just seven shot attempts for the game by Perth's defence but had 13 points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds still with Tyger Campbell also down to 23 minutes with foul trouble but being a +11 on his way to seven points and four assists.

Nick Marshall also had 12 points and two rebounds, Ben Ayre five points, four assists and three boards, and the returning David Johnson three points and two assists in just over 23 minutes.

Kristian Doolittle finished with 30 points and six assists for Perth with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr adding 19 points and eight rebounds, and David Duke Jr 19 points and four assists.

Tasmania opened up the scoring with a three ball from Tyger Campbell before David Johnson added another soon after for the perfect start to his return game.

Josh Bannan then scored twice and Majok Deng hit from downtown and suddenly it was the JackJumpers with the fast start and the 13-4 advantage.

The JackJumpers kept their hot shooting going the rest of the first quarter too going 6/10 from deep and 65 per cent overall from the floor, but it was the Wildcats leading 32-28 by quarter-time while matching the Tasmania shooting and with 10 free throws to zero.

Nick Marshall had a bright start to the second frame with six quick points to get the JackJumpers back within two before scores were back level soon after with Tasmania scoring eight consecutive points.

It was still a tight game at half-time with Perth leading 57-52 with both teams shooting well, but the major difference continued to be the 19 free-throw attempts to three.

Deng started the second half with another three-point bomb to close the gap to two again but the Wildcats answered with 11 of the next 13 points to open up an 11-point advantage.

That got out to 16 heading towards three quarter-time but the JackJumpers cut it back to 10 by the break thanks to the last six points courtesy of Ben Ayre and Bannan.

The JackJumpers kept on fighting throughout the fourth quarter and did get back as close as seven midway through but then there was a nine-point swing when the visitors missed two gimmes up one end,. The 'Cats hit five points in response up the other to be back up 12.

Tasmania didn’t give up the ghost and it was again back to a six-point ball game late but the Wildcats fittingly iced the game at the charity stripe.

The JackJumpers now have the swiftest of possible turnarounds to playing at 2:30pm at home on Sunday afternoon against an in-form Sydney Kings outfit who haven’t played since last Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 95 (Bannan 29, Deng 26, Hamilton 13)

PERTH WILDCATS 101 (Doolittle 30, Duke Jr 19, Lual-Acuil Jr 19)

BOX SCORE