Round 17 Game Preview v New Zealand Breakers

GAME PREVIEW –

Round 17 – BNZ New Zealand Breakers v Tasmania JackJumpers

Friday January 26, 5.30pm tip-off AEDT

Event Finda Stadium, Christchurch

Watch LIVE on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

State of Play

It’s safe to say things are tightening up across the NBL ladder and games are running out for many teams as the regular season starts to near its end. New Zealand still have 7 games to play so a little more room to move, but every game is crucial for the Breakers as they fight to break into the top 6 and a play-in place.

New Zealand are coming off a big win over South East Melbourne, while confidence levels are also high at the JackJumpers after a 21 point win over ladder leading Melbourne United last week. The match up will be a physical, fiery encounter with plenty of spice and the regular season H2H title on the line.

Last time they met  

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 13

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 93 (Macdonald 23, McVeigh 17, Lee 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 98 (Jackson-Cartwright 27, Lamb 18, Rubštavicius 16, Mathiang 16)

The New Zealand Breakers prevailed with come-from-behind 98-93 road win on New Year’s Day.

Sean Macdonald might be a development player but knocked down three three-pointers in the second quarter alone for Tasmania but New Zealand scored the last six points of the half to tie it at 40-40.

The JackJumpers were shooting superbly from downtown and make six long bombs in the third quarter, but New Zealand had a more well-rounded attack and put up 30 points in the period to lead 70-64.

When Macdonald landed his seventh three of the game with just over three minutes to go, the JackJumpers were again up four but the Breakers just wouldn’t be denied.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright took charge down the stretch and along with a strong and-one play from big man Mangok Mathiang that drew a fifth foul on Marcus Lee, New Zealand closed it out to win by five.

SRT Logistics Coaches’ take

Assistant Coach Mark Radford said “There's some different styles in the league that are all successful in their own but we do find, Melbourne United, New Zealand, Brisbane are very, very, very physical games. I don't think this week will be any different. Probably the separator might possibly be the team that fouls the least. They've shot a lot of free throws in New Zealand In the past, and we've had our issues, we feel like we've tidied some of those things up”.

Ins & outs 

Tasmania JackJumpers: -

New Zealand Breakers: TBC  

Opponents on the Radar 

Mantas Rubstavicius - Injuries have restricted the ability for Next Star Mantas Rubstavicius to really impact games this season but his ability to make a high percentage of his shots from deep is one of the most draftable aspects of Rubstavicius’ game and follows the trend of highly fundamentally skilled European players making the leap to the NBA.