Round 5 Game Preview - Tasmania JackJumpers vs Sydney Kings

Round 5 –Tasmania JackJumpers vs Sydney Kings 
Friday 18 October, 7.30pm AEDT tip-off 
Silverdome - Launceston 
LIVE ON ESPN VIA KAYO 

State of Play 

The Tasmania JackJumpers will head North for the first time in NBL25 to host the Sydney Kings this Friday at the Silverdome in Launceston. The JackJumpers currently sit in 8th  place in the league recording two wins and three losses to kick off the season, will be looking to show tenacity and bounce back from their recent away loss to the Illawarra Hawks.  

The JackJumpers will look to leverage the energy of its strong support in the North of the state, in the first of two back-to-back home fixtures to be played at the Silverdome. This is the first time that the Sydney Kings will play at the Silverdome. 

The Kings are captained by Xavier Cooks who recently returned to the Kings after stints in the NBA and Japan. Sydney sits in 4th place in league standings after recording four wins and two losses to begin their NBL25 campaign. Widely regarded to have one of the most stacked rosters in the league, the Kings will be in a strong position to tackle the challenges of the season ahead. 

The JackJumpers will travel to Adelaide following the clash with the Kings to take on the 36ers Sunday in the second of two fixtures for the round. 

Last Time They Met 

ROUND 11 Season 2023/24 
Sunday, 17 December – MyState Bank Arena 
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 82 ( McVeigh 23, Crawford 22, Doyle 11) 
SYDNEY KINGS 90 (Galloway 22 , Adams 15, Hunter 13) 

The last time the Tasmania JackJumpers faced the Sydney Kings, Jack McVeigh and Jordon Crawford stood out offensively. McVeigh led with 23 points, while Crawford added 22. However, the JackJumpers faced challenges with ball control, recording a club-high 19 turnovers, which disrupted their momentum. 

They started strong with 24 points in the first quarter, but the second quarter saw a shift as they scored only nine points allowing Sydney to seize control. Coach Scott Roth noted the Kings' defensive pressure, which forced errors and interfered with the JackJumpers' passing lanes. This performance highlighted the impact of ball security and offensive consistency in their matchup against Sydney. 

SRT Logistics Coaches’ Take 

" We’re very excited to play in front of our fans in the north of the state for the first regular season game this year. We will be focusing on showcasing our JackJumper style of basketball against a formidable Sydney Kings lineup fronted by Xavier Cooks. We then travel and play against the Adelaide 36ers in a stadium which will provide a great atmosphere for our guys to play in.” Assistant Coach Jarrad Weeks 

Ins & Outs 

• Tasmania JackJumpers: Sean Macdonald remains out as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. 

• Sydney Kings: Jaylen Adams (back)