Deng leads JackJumpers OT fight in Cairns

The Tasmania JackJumpers fought back valiantly from 15 points down to hit the front in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t quite complete the deal with the Cairns Taipans prevailing 96-93 in overtime despite Majok Deng's best efforts.

The JackJumpers did find themselves 15 points down at half-time against the Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night, but kept on fighting as is their way and got back in front midway through the fourth quarter.

Tasmania scored nine straight points including the go-ahead triple from Tyger Campbell before the Taipans responded and it was a free-throw from Majok Deng that ultimately sent the game to overtime.

However, with the JackJumpers missing Campbell, David Johnson and Ben Ayre in overtime on top of the players already absent Will Magnay, Sean Macdonald and Bryce Hamilton, and the Snakes ended up scoring the three-point win.

Deng was back on his former home floor and ready to embrace being back for Tasmania after his scary concussion last week. He produced his best performance with the JackJumpers with 28 points and eight rebounds with 10/12 free-throw shooting.

Before he fouled out early in overtime, David Johnson had 17 points with 3/5 three-point shooting to his name and before he went off with cramp, Tyger Campbell had 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Josh Bannan battled hard for another 18 points, 15 rebounds and three assists with Nick Marshall contributing 11 points and seven boards, Nick Stoddart three points, and Anthony Drmic two to go with three rebounds.

JackJumpers championship hero Jack McVeigh had a big night for the Taipans finishing with 40 points with eight rebounds on shooting a perfect 17/17 at the free-throw line.

Kody Stattmann also finished with a career-best 18 points for Cairns with Mojave King adding 16 points, Kyrin Galloway seven points and nine rebounds, and Kyle Adnam seven points and four assists.

Majok Deng caught fire early for the JackJumpers and when his team were leading 12-8, he had 10 points already to his name as he returned to the line-up and stepping in for the absence of Will Magnay.

The Taipans then got rolling to close the first quarter by going on a 16-3 run heading into quarter-time. And by the break of their 27 points, 21 were from Mojave King and Jack McVeigh as they opened up a 10-point advantage.

The Snakes then continued the momentum in the second frame with the first four points to make it a 20-3 to lead by 14 before the JackJumpers did answer with the next six points including five straight from Johnson.

Cairns were able to maintain that edge for the rest of the half to go into the break leading 54-39 on the back of 20 points from former JackJumper McVeigh which included him going a perfect 10/10 at the foul line.

Tasmania did stay in touch thanks to a combined 25 points from Deng and Johnson before the JackJumpers came out firing to open the second half with a triple from Tyger Campbell, three-pointer from Johnson and bucket from Deng.

Tasmania couldn’t quite get all the way back in front, though, and by three quarter-time Cairns had done enough to still be leading 71-65 with McVeigh scoring his team's last 10 points for the period.

Eventually the JackJumpers worked back in front thanks to a 9-0 run including a three-pointer from Campbell with 4:45 to go, but it wasn’t done yet.

McVeigh answered with a pair of three balls put the Snakes back on top before a free-throw from Deng levelled things once more, and Tasmania did well denying McVeigh a good look at the buzzer to force overtime.

Early in overtime, the JackJumpers lost Campbell to cramp and Johnson fouled out, and while they did their best to shut down McVeigh, it was Kody Stattmann who stepped up with seven straight points at one-point but even then Deng's shot to force a second overtime for Tasmania just rimmed out.

The JackJumpers now have the quickest of turnarounds and will spend all of Saturday travelling back from Cairns to Hobart ahead of hosting the New Zealand Breakers in the early game on Sunday with sixth position going on the line.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – PRIDE ROUND

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 93 (Deng 28, Bannan 18, Johnson 17)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 96 (McVeigh 40, Stattmann 18, King 16)

BOX SCORE