Rd 12: Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers

Rd  12 –Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers   

Monday 26^th December - 7.30pm AEDT

Doors open – 6.30pm AEDT

MyState Bank Arena

Watch LIVE on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

Game Day Partner: Tasmania’s Taste of Summer  

State of Play

This will be the fourth time the JackJumpers have met in NBL23, the first time this season that two sides have played the full series.

The previous three encounters have been fiery affairs, culminating in an explosive game three in Launceston in mid-November in which the Breakers overcame foul trouble to take control and silence the raucous Silverdome crowd.

The JackJumpers got back on the winners’ list to kick off the Round 12 double-header with an impressive victory over cellar dwellers Illawarra Hawks on Thursday.

The win broke a three game losing streak at home, the first in the club’s history and Tasmania will looking to do the same again in a Boxing Day Bonanza.

A bout of covid-19 has swept through the Breakers camp recently causing disruptions to two scheduled games due to New Zealand’s isolation rules. By all reports, players have recovered well and will be fit and firing for the clash at MyState Bank Arena.

Last time they met  

Round 7 – Fri 18 November 2022

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 76 (Kelly 17, Magette 16, McVeigh 11)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 84 (Pardon 19, Le'afa 17, Brown 12, Brantley 12) 

Tasmania JackJumpers star big man Will Magnay made his long-awaited return but the New Zealand Breakers spoiled the party scoring an 84-76 win in in Round 7 in a fiery game in Launceston.

The second-placed Breakers proved too strong in the final quarter as they further showed their outstanding touch on the road improving their away record to 5-1 so far this season.

The JackJumpers welcomed back Magnay in the game who had missed 32 games with injury since going down midway through last season. Captain Steindl also returned from injury but the home side was without three key players with Doyle, Kenyon and Weeks all sidelined.

SRT Coaches’ take

Associate Head Coach Jacob Chance said “they’re undoubtedly one of the best sides in the competition, they’ve built a great roster and had huge buy-in to what Mody has created over there. They’ve been dealing with some illness and some schedule changes as a result but you always know they’re going to bring a physical game and make you fight for every possession so we’re looking forward to taking them on at home”.

Ins & outs 

JackJumpers: TBC

 Breakers: TBC

Opponents on the Radar 

Dererk Pardon was again strong for the Breakers, and his fiery battle with returning big man Will Magnay was worth the price of the ticket alone in Round 7. Izayah Le’afa will also be a key focus after landing some crucial blows from beyond the arc in his 17 point effort in Launceston.