Rd 6 Preview | JackJumpers v Bullets

The Tasmania JackJumpers complete their run of three games in under a week when they host the Brisbane Bullets on Wednesday night in an Ignite Cup match up at MyState Bank Arena.

This hectic run of home games for the JackJumpers saw them start by sitting in top spot of the NBL prior to a loss to the Adelaide 36ers back on Friday night.

They had little time to stew over that before hosting the New Zealand Breakers in the early game on Sunday afternoon and responded well for the 98-92 victory.

That returned the JackJumpers to first place in the NBL standings with the 5-2 record ahead of a third rapid-fire home game this Wednesday night back at MyState Bank Arena against the visiting Bullets.

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It's a first Ignite Cup by 7-Eleven game of the season so far as well for the JackJumpers, with all games played on a Wednesday night as part of the in-season tournament, with all roads heading to a separate finals series held in Canberra following the conclusion of the NBL regular season in February.

Not only are three points on offer for winning Ignite Cup games, but you get a point for outscoring your opponent in each quarter. Then by the end of the season, the four teams with the most points will head to Canberra for that weekend with a record $550,000 prize money on offer.

That's the last thing on the minds of the JackJumpers heading into this Wednesday's clash, though, as they take on a Bullets team holding a 3-3 record and fresh off beating the South East Melbourne Phoenix 115-105 at home last Thursday night.

With the JackJumpers still missing Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton and Majok Deng, Brisbane will be arriving without Jacob Holt, Arnas Velička and inaugural JackJumper Sam McDaniel.

Brisbane will welcome three-time Olympian Raul Neto, though, as their replacement import point guard who brings with him 464 games of NBA experience.

The two teams have already played once this season too and that was an overtime thriller in Brisbane back on October 3 with the JackJumpers ending up prevailing 109-99 having been down 14 at one point earlier in the contest.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth is looking for his team to continue their momentum from Sunday, but also to potentially have some new supporters able to get into MyState Bank Arena to watch the game as they focus on what they need to do right against the Bullets.

"It's really important for a number of reasons – firstly when you have this kind of a block of games you want to do as well as you can in it, and you want to try and take advantage of being at home," Roth said.

"Then obviously a Wednesday night game is a little unusual and it's an Ignite game, but really for us it's about rallying about the community who can't get to usually watch us and having a chance to come to the game.

"To me, that's the biggest takeaway for Wednesday is that so many fans around the state can't usually get to see us, but this is one of those opportunities where it's open for the public to come in and maybe come to see us for the first time.

"No offence to them (Brisbane) or anyone else we end up playing but it always comes back to us and how we approach the games, and our mentality.

"They've improved greatly over the short amount of their season, but really this will be about us and our approach to having three games in six days, and just staying on task."

JackJumpers captain Will Magnay has had an outstanding start to the season with 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.4 blocks on 60 per cent field goal shooting including a couple of threes back on Friday against Adelaide with one a halfcourt prayer.

He's just focused on the team, though, and what they need to continue doing well to keep their winning momentum going against the Bullets.

"We obviously had a rough one against Adelaide with some moments there we could have done better, but responded really well against New Zealand and it's a quick turnaround, and we're just trying to get the bodies moving and feeling as good as we can for Wednesday," Magnay said.

"Obviously it's a big challenge with some good players coming in and we don't fully know who's playing and who's not for them, but whoever plays it's not really about them, it's about us and what we can do and we're looking forward to it.

"If you look around the league, you can't underestimate any team and anyone can come in and win any game so we'll have to be on point for whoever shows up."

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2026/27 | ROUND 6

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS v Brisbane Bullets

MyState Bank Arena, Wednesday October 21, 7:30pm

Watch live on ESPN via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo or Fetch