Fate 'Tealed': Tasmania misses playoffs

• Majok Deng has 21 points in JackJumpers last game of NBL25
• Annual Teal Game raises awareness of gynaecological cancers
• Cairns finish season 8-21

Tasmania JackJumpers snapped a six-game losing streak with a gritty 90-83 win (Game Centre) against the Cairns Taipans in their annual Teal Game that brought to an end their chances of defending their NBL24.

The win, dedicated to raising awareness for gynaecological cancers, saw the JackJumpers narrowly miss out on a playoff berth despite a rollercoaster season marred by injuries. The win was particularly poignant given the occasion, with the JackJumpers donning teal uniforms in support of the SHE Foundation.

The JackJumpers came out firing, with Milton Doyle igniting the crowd early by scoring 12 points in the first quarter.

Tasmania built a lead as large as 19 points in the first half, showcasing the form that made them champions last season.

However, the resilient Taipans, led by Tanner Groves and Taran Armstrong, refused to go quietly, clawing back to within five points by the end of the third quarter.

The final period saw Tasmania reassert their dominance, with clutch three-pointers from Nick Stoddart and Jordon Crawford helping to secure the victory.

Despite the victory, Tasmania's final record of 13-16 sees them miss the playoffs on percentage, a bitter pill to swallow after starting the season 3-8.

The JackJumpers' ability to stay in playoff contention until the final game, despite rarely fielding a full-strength squad, is a testament to their resilience. The defending champions lost Will Magnay and Sean Macdonald for the season and battled other injuries throughout the season.

Majok Deng led all scorers with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Jordon Crawford added 19 points and four assists.

The JackJumpers' defence was particularly impressive, forcing 16 Cairns turnovers and limiting the Taipans to a woeful 3-from-27 from beyond the arc.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth praised his team's perseverance.

"To get this one across the line for our fans ... was tremendous," he said.

"We've been knocked around a bit, but in the 29th game of our season we still had a chance to be in there."

For Cairns, the loss caps off a challenging 8-21 season. However, their late-season resurgence, winning five of their last ten after a 15-game losing streak, provides hope for the future.

Tanner Groves' 17-point, eight-rebound performance and Taran Armstrong's homecoming effort of 16 points were bright spots for the Taipans.

"We had some really good looks that didn't drop for us," Taipans coach Adam Forde said.

"It just seemed like everything was a struggle out there to get the scoreboard ticking over."

As the NBL looks ahead to the playoffs, both Tasmania and Cairns will be focused on regrouping and strengthening their rosters for next season.

The JackJumpers, in particular, will be eager to reclaim their championship form and make another deep run in 2025-26.