JackJumpers make history with third straight win

With Will Magnay a dominant presence, Matt Kenyon locking in and Jack McVeigh, Josh Magette and Josh Adams delivering, the Tasmania JackJumpers have ended this home stand beating the Sydney Kings 77-70.

The Friday night clash back at MyState Bank Arena was the sixth straight match in Hobart for the JackJumpers. They now hit the road having won four of them, including three in-a-row for the first ever time.

There was plenty to like from the JackJumpers especially after quarter-time on Friday night. They turned a nine-point deficit into a six-point half-time lead on the back of a remarkable second quarter.

In that quarter alone, the JackJumpers scored 29 points on 8/13 shooting from the field and 7/9 from downtown while holding Sydney to just the 14 points on 6/17 and 0/5 shooting.

From there, the JackJumpers maintained their advantage on the way to the seven-point win on the back of holding the Kings to shooting 36 per cent from the field and 3/23 at 13 per cent from deep along with 15 turnovers.

Will Magnay likely played his best game in JackJumpers colours and was the dominant big man in the game. He finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks – but his impact was much more significant than that suggests with his presence.

Josh Magette again top-scored hitting 4/10 from deep on his way to 18 points while Jack McVeigh is in his best patch of form of the season too with another 17 points and eight rebounds.

Josh Adams added 16 points, rebounds and four assists to be another strong contributor for the winners with Clint Steindl contributing five points and three rebounds, Fabijan Krslovic three points and two boards, Mikyle McIntosh two points and three rebounds, Jarrad Weeks two points and two assists, and Sam McDaniel two points, two boards and two steals.

Matt Kenyon again earned the start and his defence was instrumental in limiting Sydney's Jaylen Adams to shooting just 6/19 from the field and 1/9 from three despite scoring 24 points.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was a happy and proud man afterwards.

"I've never had this feeling here before so it's all good right now," Roth said.

"It's obviously our first kind of streak and the guys played very well especially in the second half just in general by knuckling down, making some plays and grinding the game out. 

"I'm just really proud of them and the effort they are giving on a daily basis, and the culture they are building. It was a heck of a win for us."

Xavier Cooks was huge for Sydney with 18 points and 13 rebounds with Jarell Martin adding 16 points and nine boards.

Despite the JackJumpers becoming renowned for their fast starts this season and coming off two impressive wins, it was the Kings who jumped out of the blocks with the first five points, and to lead 14-8 leading to a Scott Roth timeout.

While Fabijan Krslovic did drain a three heading towards quarter-time, the Kings were still on top 24-15 after one but the JackJumpers worked their way back into the contest early in the second term including a pair of three balls to Jack McVeigh.

Then just as Sydney thought they might have had a degree of control up 36-30, Tasmania took over hitting the next 14 points including three-pointers to Will Magnay and three of them for Magette.

Magnay was also a defensive monster with his shot blocking and intimidation, and all of a sudden the JackJumpers went into half-time leading 44-38. They had gone 8/13 from the field for the second quarter opposed to 6/17 from Sydney, and a stunning 7/9 from deep to 0/5.

McVeigh then continued his big night with five quick points to open up the second half with the pressure full-court from the JackJumpers making life difficult for the Kings. Tasmania benefitted and Sam McDaniel finished in transition to keep the lead at eight.

Adams then scored five points to close the third quarter with the home team still up 58-54.

Adams stretched that advantage to six to start the fourth quarter too and every time the Kings did challenge, the JackJumpers had an answer whether it was getting a stop, a Magnay flush or another Magette three-point bomb on the way to the seven-point win.

The JackJumpers now begin a string of road games beginning by heading to Melbourne to take on United on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 10

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 77 (Magette 18, McVeigh 17, Adams 16)

SYDNEY KINGS 70 (Adams 24, Cooks 18, Martin 16) 

BOX SCORE