Game Details
Round 9, Brisbane Bullets (4-7) v Tasmania JackJumpers (6-6)
3.00pm AEDT Sunday4 December @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Watch: ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel
Listen: Cluch Radio
Game context
Both sides come come into the game with confidence having both won their last matches. For Brisbane, they are looking to make it two from two this week on their home floor, after beating the Perth Wildcats in OT on Thursday night. For Tasmania, they will be looking to make it another road win, after an amazing come from behind win against Melbourne united last weekend.
Brisbane have been searching for consistency all season, with expectations high after the signing of Aron Baynes in the off-season. Coach James Duncan has been the first casualty of thier poor start to NBL23, who was fired last month, with General Manager Sam McKinnon stepping into the coaching role. A win against the JackJumpers will take a lot the pressure off the Bullets organisation.
On the flipside the JackJumpers have had such dramas coming into the game, and will be hoping to improve on their last game against the bullets. A month ago they put in a poor first half of shooting to to be down double figures at half time, never really out of any game the Jackies made a late comeback but ended up falling just short 74-72.
The difference this time around is they will have Will Magnay and Clint Steindl available to play. Both are still on the comeback from injury, but their presence in limited minutes cannot be underestimated.
Key players for the game will be Nathan Sobey, who had his best outing of NBL 23 on Thursday night with 28 points, with several late shots in the clutch to push the game to overtime. While for Tasmania similarly it was the late shooting prowess of Milton Doyle, who put the team on his back in the closing minutes to steer them to victory Melbourne United. Doyle finished with a game-high 23 points, including with points in the final quarter
Stat facts
This is the third and final meeting between the two sides in NBL23, with the teams splitting their game in Hobart 1-1.
This will be the 6th meeting between the two sides, and have all been close games. All games being decided by single digits and two have gone to overtime.
Lineups
As per the game against Melbourne Tasmania will be without Sam McDaniel and Matt Kenyon, who are both out with calf injuries. This once again leaves the JackJumpers without arguably its best two defensive guards. Expect more minutes from Sean McDonald to fill this gap.
For Brisbane, they are also down a key defensive piece with Tanner Krebs out for following an ankle injury in the Thursday’s game against Perth. This is in addition to injures to Tyler Harrison and Kody Stattman, while Aron Baynes will be a game time decision.
If Baynes is fit, it provides a great battle with JackJumpers Will Magnay, arguably the two premier big men in the NBL. Already without Harrison, no Baynes as well could mean that Harry Froling will play an extended role in reducing Magnay’s impact on the game.
What has been said
Speaking with ABC Grandstand Tasmania, JackJumpers forward Fabian Krslovic said the team was wary of the Bullets offensive game.
“They’re a really dangerous team in transition, they’re free flowing and they’ve got guys making plays in that transition game. They’re really tough to stop and can put a lot of points on the board. So I think that’s going to be a big key for us, how we slow them down.” Krslovic said.
Following their win over Perth, Bullets Coach Sam McKinnon praised the teams resilience in covering the absences of big men Aron Baynes and Tyler Harrison.
“I’ll say that they’re a good group of human beings. We’ve got some adversity now with injuries and I think they just fully embraced that tonight and sacrificed and did whatever they could for their teammates,” Mackinnon said.
NBL 22-23 Matchups
Tasmania JackJumpers 72 lost to Brisbane Bullets 74
MyState Bank Arena, 6 November 2022
Tasmania JackJumpers 90 defeated Brisbane Bullets 86
MyState Bank Arena, 9 October 2022