Round 19 - Tasmania JackJumpers vs Illawarra Hawks

Round 19 – Tasmania JackJumpers vs Illawarra Hawks

Thursday 30 January, 7.30pm AEDT tip-off

MyState Bank Arena

LIVE ON ESPN

State of Play 

The Tasmania JackJumpers return home to MyState Bank Arena this Thursday night, ready to take on the ladder-leading Illawarra Hawks in front of a passionate home crowd. This round marks the NBL Pride Round, celebrating inclusion and diversity across the league.

Despite holding the top spot, the Hawks are coming off a loss to the bottom-placed Cairns Taipans—their second defeat to Cairns in the past three weeks. Tasmania will look to take full advantage, especially with the return of Anthony Drmic adding depth to the squad.

The JackJumpers will need to be locked in defensively, with Illawarra boasting relentless offensive threats in Trey Kell III (18.1 ppg) and Tyler Harvey (17.6 ppg), while Sam Froling provides a strong presence inside.

Tasmania is hungry to respond after a tough loss to SEM Pheonix and will be looking to feed off the energy of their home fans. With every game critical in the finals race, the JackJumpers have the perfect opportunity to make a statement.

Last Time They Met

Round 15 – Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers, Tuesday 7 January, 7.30pm AEDT tip-off, WIN Entertainment Centre

The Tasmania JackJumpers put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short against the league-leading Illawarra Hawks, losing 89-84 in a hard-fought contest at the WIN Entertainment Centre. Despite the defeat, Tasmania showcased resilience and determination, keeping the game competitive until the final moments.

After a closely contested first quarter, where they trailed by just two points, the JackJumpers struggled in the second period as the Hawks went on a 14-4 run to extend their lead to 49-36 at halftime. Tasmania’s offense faltered, shooting only 35% compared to Illawarra’s 50%.

However, the JackJumpers responded strongly in the third quarter, with Sean Macdonald catching fire from beyond the arc and Reuben Te Rangi playing with intensity to bring the deficit down to just two points. The fourth quarter remained a tight battle, with Majok Deng and Jordon Crawford providing key baskets, while Fabijan Krslovic impressed with a double-double, recording 11 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Despite closing the gap to three points in the final minutes, the JackJumpers could not overcome the Hawks’ clutch execution, as Trey Kell III and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk delivered crucial plays to secure the win for Illawarra.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 89 (Kell 19, Harvey 18, Froling 15)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 76 (Crawford 13, Deng 16, Macdonald 19)

BOX SCORE

• Tasmania JackJumpers: Will Magnay (fractured toe), Sean Macdonald (ankle), Majok Deng (GTD)
• Illawarra Hawks: Darius Days (Hamstring)