Round 11 Game Day Preview v Sydney Kings

GAME PREVIEW –

Round 11 – Perth Wildcats v Tasmania JackJumpers

NBL DC Multiverse Round

Friday 17 December, 2.00pm tip-off AEDT

MyState Bank Arena

Watch LIVE on 10Peach & 10 Play, ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

State of Play

Tasmania will host rival Sydney Kings for the second time at MyState Bank Arena, and the third time this season. The JackJumpers have had the upper hand in both encounters so far, winning both home and away clashes in NBL24.

The Tasmanian crowd has not forgotten the Championship series of 2022 and despite a new coach and a different looking side, they’ll be as passionate as ever and eager to continue the JackJumpers dominance over the powerhouse Kings this season.

After a strong start to NBL24, the Kings have lost three of their past four games and suffered a disappointing 104-94 defeat to an undermanned South East Melbourne Phoenix in Sydney last Sunday.

Sydney has time to turn things around and still sit fourth on the ladder, but with the high expectation set within an organisation seeking a threepeat, they will be out for blood against their NBL22 Grand Final opponents.

Sydney is currently seventh in the league in defensive rating, a stat that often correlates to championships. Since 2012, the winner of the title has always been in the top three of defensive rating at the end of the season, and the Kings last two title-winning sides have been the only teams in that time outside the top two.

Meanwhile the JackJumpers are coming off a moral boosting win over the Breakers last Saturday, the expansion franchise’s first ever international victory across the ditch. The JackJumpers suffocated New Zealand’s attack with Will Magnay’s protection of the rim and a collective effort to cover the absence of MVP Milton Doyle.

Last time they met  

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 4, October 22 – Qudos Bank Arena

SYDNEY KINGS 95 (Adams 21, Hunter 16, Toohey 13)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 105 (Crawford 32, Deng 17, Doyle 17)

A late Jordon Crawford scoring flurry helped lead Tasmania to its second win over Sydney in NBL24.

Gun import Jordon Crawford has exploded late to lead the Tasmania JackJumpers to a club-record score in a 105-95 NBL road win over the defending champion Sydney Kings.

The American guard opened the final period at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday with four consecutive three-pointers and scored all of his team's points on a stunning 14-2 run.

It gave the JackJumpers a game-high 19-point lead and just about put the result to bed after Sydney had lost Jaylin Galloway (shoulder) and Jonah Bolden (fouled out).

Form Guide

Tasmania

89-88 loss to Perth
97-80 win over New Zealand
94-59 win over Adelaide

90-87 win over Cairns
92-97 loss to New Zealand

SRT Logistics Coaches’ take

Assistant Coach Mark Radford said “you can never sleep on any team, but you certainly cannot take Sydney lightly. Their talent runs deep and with the likes of Toohey and Adams, they have threats across the court. Home crowd is always a great thing, and to be back at MyState after a couple of weeks will be fantastic”.

Ins & outs 

Tasmania JackJumpers: TBC

Sydney Kings: TBC