Tough start to Playoffs for JackJumpers in NZ

The Tasmania JackJumpers couldn't quite stick with the New Zealand Breakers down the stretch in Game 1 of the NBL Playoff Series in Auckland on Sunday, but now return home for Game 2 on Thursday.

The Breakers were playing their first Finals game of any kind since losing in two games of the semi finals to Melbourne United in 2018 and attempting to win a first post-season match since Game 2 of the Grand Final series with the Perth Wildcats in 2016.

They were at home on Sunday at Spark Arena in front of 5479 fans hosting the JackJumpers with Tasmania having booked in their spot against the second ranked New Zealand after beating the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night.

The Breakers came out on fire to lead 12-2 early and really put the clamps on the JackJumpers who were still finding their feet without point guard Josh Magette and captain Clint Steindl.

While the JackJumpers did make a couple of runs including getting back within eight early in the fourth, the Breakers had all the answers and scored 15 of the next 19 points to secure the eventual 88-68 win.

The 16 turnovers might not please coach Mody Maor too much, but it was a strong all-round showing from the Breakers. They shot 54 per cent from the field, hit 9/21 from deep and nailed 21/25 at the foul line.

They did only have four offensive rebounds but also didn’t miss a whole lot while defensively they restricted Tasmania to shooting 33 per cent from the floor and 6/23 from downtown. The JackJumpers did well getting to the stripe, though, going 22/29.

Rashard Kelly top-scored for Tasmania with 12 points and four rebounds but shot just 2/10 from the floor. Milton Doyle was the only other to reach double-figures with 10 points and four assists on 3/9 shooting.

Jack McVeigh added nine points and three rebounds, and Fabijan Krslovic nine points and four boards.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has seen his team continue to bounce back after losses all season long and is sure they can again after a tough Game 1.

"We just didn’t play very well," Roth said.

"We did have some fightback but we had some poor turnovers, some self-inflicted wounds and just didn’t play well. Or not good enough to win. 

"The good news is that it's a series so we just flush it and move on. I'm not really concerned about Thursday just yet, I just want to get home and get out of this weather, and sleep in my bed and enjoy the next day or two and recoup."

The Breakers hadn’t played since securing second spot last Saturday with the win over the Brisbane Bullets in overtime and looked a fresh unit bounding out to a tremendous start. 

New Zealand scored the first six points of the game and soon led 12-2 on the back of a three-point bomb from Will McDowell-White.

Jarrell Brantley kept the Breakers in control with a three-point play and the lead was still 19-12 by quarter-time despite an important late three-pointer for Tasmania from Fabijan Krslovic.

It was rough going offensively for a lot of the first half for the JackJumpers and more minutes had gone in the game than they had scored points when Rayan Rupert hit a three for the Breakers, and McDowell-White converted an and-one for the 31-15 lead.

Tom Abercrombie hit a three soon after to keep New Zealand up 15 but the JackJumpers did finish the half strongly. The Breakers didn’t hit another field goal for the half and Tasmania went on a 16-3 run.

Rashard Kelly scored the last seven of those points and suddenly New Zealand's lead was just 39-37 at half-time having been as high as 16 earlier in the quarter.

The Breakers were still shooting 51 per cent from the field going into half-time but the JackJumpers willed their way into staying in touch despite going 35 per cent from the floor.

Tasmania might have gone into the half with the momentum, but New Zealand grabbed it back with five quick points to open the second half with Scott Roth calling a timeout after just 38 seconds.

McDowell-White scored next out of that to push the Breakers back to a nine-point lead and while the JackJumpers did close within six, New Zealand kept having the answers.

Two threes late in the third quarter from Cam Gliddon proved crucial to New Zealand leading again by 14 but Tasmania stayed in touch at three quarter-time thanks to a late triple from Jarrad Weeks.

Brantley hit a three to give New Zealand the perfect start to the fourth quarter with the lead back out to 14. Tasmania responded with the next six points but the Breakers answers back with the next nine starting with a triple from Abercrombie.

Two Brantley free-throws pushed the lead out to a game high 17 points and even though the JackJumpers kept fighting, they couldn’t seriously threaten with New Zealand winning by 20 for a first post-season NBL win since Game 2 of the Grand Final series against Perth in 2016.

Game 2 will be at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on Thursday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – PLAYOFF SERIES 1, GAME 1

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 68 (Kelly 12, Doyle 10, McVeigh 9, Krslovic 9) 

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 88 (Pardon 15, McDowel-White 13, Brown Jr 11)

BOX SCORE