JackJumpers secure another thriller

Josh Bannan and Will Magnay were powerful forces inside and newly signed import TJ Starks produced 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Tasmania JackJumpers won another thriller 84-82 against the Brisbane Bullets.

It was a third straight game on the road for the JackJumpers as they took on the Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday night in what turned out quite the thrilling and seesawing contest.

After Tasmania were up by four late in the third quarter, the Bullets scored 12 straight points and were up by as much as nine in the fourth, but Tasmania responded with a 16-4 run to reclaim the lead.

Then the JackJumpers scored the last five points of the game in the final minute with Bannan and Magnay capping off their huge performances to help secure the eventual two-point win.

Josh Bannan produced a standout performance for the JackJumpers in his first game against the team he started his NBL career at. He ended up with 23 points, 15 rebounds and two assists on 9/12 shooting from the field.

TJ Starks then scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and 18 for the game in his first appearance for Tasmania after signing as a short-term replacement for David Johnson.

Will Magnay had a strong performance up against Tyrell Harrison for 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals on 6/7 shooting with Bryce Hamilton contributing another 10 points, three boards and two assists.

Nick Marshall provided seven points and four rebounds, Tyger Campbell six points and three assists, Anthony Drmic four points and two rebounds, and Ben Ayre three points and three assists.

Jaylen Adams finished with 19 points and seven assists for Brisbane with Taine Murray adding 17 points and Alex Ducas 12.

Will Magnay made a strong start in his battle with Tyrell Harrison with a couple of strong finishes to open the scoring for Tasmania before he had nine points and four rebounds alone in the opening stanza.

The JackJumpers ended up shooting 56 per cent from the field in that first 10 minutes and they were narrowly leading 22-21 as a result by quarter-time.

After Brisbane opened up an early four-point lead in the second quarter, Josh Bannan responded with a triple for the JackJumpers and then Magnay scored again to put his team back in front.

It remained a tight battle going into half-time with the lead continuing to exchange hands with Brisbane ending up narrowly up 45-42 despite Magnay and Bannan combining for 22 points and 16 rebounds with the JackJumpers also having 24 rebounds to 13, and seven offensively to two.

Tasmania drew back level to open the second half with a three-pointer to Tyger Campbell and then the JackJumpers had all the momentum heading towards three quarter-time with seven straight points for a four-point lead.

However, Brisbane responded with the last 12 points of the third quarter and suddenly the JackJumpers had work to do with an eight-point deficit heading into the fourth.

Brisbane's lead got out to nine early in the fourth quarter but Tasmania responded and it all started with newly signed import TJ Starks.

By the time he hit a three, the JackJumpers were back within three before a run of eight straight points made up of scores from Nick Marshall, Starks and Bannan, Tasmania were back in front.

Starks scored again to keep them up three and to give him 13 points in the quarter but the swings continued with the Bullets regaining a three-point advantage heading into the final minute.

From there, Bannan made a tough basket down low and then Magnay threw down a dunk when he was left wide open under the basket to return Tasmania to the lead with 32.9 seconds to go.

Magnay then made another massive play up the other end when he drew a charge on Tyrell Harrison and from there the JackJumpers secured the two-point victory to make it three on the trot.

The JackJumpers will now attempt to make it four from four in this early season road stretch when they take on the Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night before returning to MyState Bank Arena the following Wednesday against the Sydney Kings.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 84 (Bannan 23, Starks 18, Magnay 13)

BRISBANE BULLETS 82 (Adams 19, Murray 17, Ducas 12)

BOX SCORE