JackJumpers win 7th straight, NZ in free-fall

• Jordan Crawford's clutch shooting fuelled Tasmania's decisive win
• JackJumpers' bench dominance crushed Breakers' hopes late
• Breakers' poor shooting sank chances in thriller showdown

Tasmania JackJumpers delivered a festive treat to their home fans, pulling away late for a 97-82 victory against the New Zealand Breakers (Game Centre) at MyState Bank Arena in a Christmas Day thriller.

The win was fuelled by a disciplined fourth-quarter performance where theJackJumpers outscored their rivals 33-24 to move to 10-8, winning their seventh straight.

But it could have boiled over big time. Reuben Te Rangi was the third man in on a fourth quarter dust up between Majok Deng and Jackson Parker-Cartwright that resulted in multiple free throws and an unsportsmanlike foul on Te Rangi.

JPC was lucky he wasn't ejected, making contact with two referees, including a two-handed shove in Joshua Durand's chest trying to get to Te Rangi. (Durand must be tough because he barely moved).

The match was a tightly contested affair for three quarters, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage.

New Zealand held a slim seven-point lead early in the second quarter, but Tasmania's resilience kept them within striking distance. The turning point came in the final frame, as the JackJumpers' bench unit ignited a game-changing run that broke the contest wide open.

Leading the charge for Tasmania was American import Jordon Crawford, who poured in a game-high 26 points, including a scorching 6-from-9 from beyond the arc. Crawford's fourth-quarter heroics, which included several clutch three-pointers, helped the JackJumpers build their largest lead of 15 points and put the game out of reach.

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The statistics tell the tale of Tasmania's dominance from long range and at the charity stripe. The JackJumpers connected on 12 of their 27 three-point attempts (44%), compared to the Breakers' woeful 4-of-23 (17%) showing from distance. At the free-throw line, Tasmania's efficiency was evident, as they converted 23 of 27 attempts (85%), while New Zealand struggled, making just 16 of 28 (57%).

At the start of the fourth, NBL legend Andrew Gaze said in commentary the Breakers would be more than in it: "If they weren't so completely pox from the free throw line." Twelve missed free stopped the Breakers putting any sort of scoreboard pressure on the home team.

Crawford's explosive performance was complemented by another reserve, Majok Deng, who contributed 20 points and seven rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. Deng's ability to stretch the floor and attack the rim provided a crucial spark for the JackJumpers' second unit, which outscored the Breakers' bench 61-21.

For the Breakers, point guard Jackson-Cartwright led the way with 23 points and six assists, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome Tasmania's balanced attack. New Zealand's interior presence was felt, as they outscored the JackJumpers 50-36 in the paint, but their inability to connect from long range ultimately proved their undoing.

The victory solidifies the defending champions position as a legitimate title contender as the NBL season approaches its midway point.

Looking ahead, both teams will have little time to dwell on this result. The JackJumpers face a quick turnaround, heading on the road to face the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Meanwhile, the Breakers will look to regroup as they stay on the road to face the Cairns Taipans on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.