JackJumpers blow 16-point lead and playoff hopes

• Shea Ili has a game: 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists
• Defending NBL champs in a dog-fight to make the NBL25 playoffs
• Tasmania's Jordon Crawford has 20 points in two-point loss

Melbourne United overcame a 16-point deficit to squeeze past the Tasmania JackJumpers 94-92 (Game Centre) in round 19 of NBL25 on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

The victory solidified United's hold on second place in the NBL standings and dealt a significant blow to Tasmania's playoff hopes.

The JackJumpers came out firing, building a commanding 61-51 halftime lead behind the stellar play of imports Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford. Tasmania's high-octane offense found its rhythm early, racking up 32 points in the opening quarter alone.

However, United, led by the inspirational Shea Ili, stormed back in the fourth quarter, opening with a 10-0 run to seize control. Ili was locked in on defense, including a game-sealing theft on Tasmania's final possession.

The statistics tell the tale of two vastly different halves. Tasmania shot a blistering 53% from the field in the first half, amassing 13 second-chance points and 13 points off turnovers. United clamped down after the break, holding the JackJumpers to just 31 points in the second half.

Ili's all-around brilliance was the story of the night. The United guard finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, though his official tally of two steals fails to capture his fourth-quarter defensive dominance.

"We gave up second-chance points, we gave up points off turnovers," United coach Dean Vickerman said.

"There were a lot of things we tidied up in the second half. Holding them to 30 is where we want to get to defensively."

For Tasmania, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. Now sitting at 12-16, their playoff hopes hang by a thread.

They'll need a big win against Cairns next Saturday, coupled with losses by Adelaide against both South East Melbourne and Perth, to have any chance of sneaking into the top six.

"These guys are disappointed. They want to win," JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said.

"The season's been kind of an up and down choppy season in general. But there's no use getting stressed or flipping out about it."

As the regular season winds down, both teams face crucial matchups next Saturday. Melbourne (18-10) will look to maintain their momentum in a crosstown Throwdown against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Tasmania, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they host the bottom-placed Cairns Taipans in a must-win encounter. With playoff implications abound, the final week of the NBL regular season promises high drama across the league.