JackJumpers Surge to Force Game 3 with Breakers

The Tasmania JackJumpers were up against it but they clamped down on the New Zealand Breakers and spurred on by their home crowd, won Game 2 of the Playoffs Series 89-78 to force a decider back in Auckland on Sunday.

The Breakers dominated Game 1 at Auckland's Spark Arena on Sunday to win 88-68 meaning the JackJumpers had to win on Thursday in front of their home fans at MyState Bank Arena to keep the series alive.

Precious little separated the two teams for most of the opening three quarters but the JackJumpers were creating a bit of luck with three-point buzzer beaters to end both the first two quarters from Matt Kenyon and Jarrad Weeks.

Then just as the Breakers were edging towards automatically qualifying for the Championship Series leading by five late in the third quarter, the JackJumpers scored the next 11 points either side of three quarter-time.

In the end huge threes from Jack McVeigh and Clint Steindl down the stretch pushed Tasmania's lead out further for the home team to win by 11 and set up a deciding Game 3 in Auckland on Sunday.

While the Breakers did score 50 points in the paint to 32 from Tasmania, the big difference came from beyond the arc with the JackJumpers knocking down 11/28 as a team and the Breakers just 6/23.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Skip’s back ??‍?? <br><br>We lead late in the last! Watch Live + free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies<br><br>GAME DAY PARTNER: Tasracing – Vote for ‘The Inevitable’ in the All-Star Mile – visit <a href="https://t.co/P7o3YQ7yfh">https://t.co/P7o3YQ7yfh</a> – you could win a life-changing $250K <a href="https://t.co/joJ4ent49r">pic.twitter.com/joJ4ent49r</a></p>&mdash; Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1626163583762714624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

All-First Team member Milton Doyle delivered for the JackJumpers with 23 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds while Jack McVeigh stepped up for 16 points and three boards.

Matt Kenyon finished with 11 points and six rebounds with Rashard Kelly having a significant impact on the second half after a rough six quarters to start the series. He ended up with eight points, four rebounds and three steals.

Captain Clint Steindl returned and was crucial with nine points, three rebounds and two assists.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth couldn’t be prouder of the way his group responded to force Game 3.

"We're humbled by this whole situation to be in this position again," Roth said.

"I think that's the biggest takeaway for our guys is that we've worked extremely hard this year to be back in this position again and to defend the island. Winning at home is what we pride ourselves on or at least putting on a good product for our fans. 

"This group is quite relentless in their approach and it doesn’t always lead to winning, but it does lead to an incredible effort. Tonight they were just relentless and on what we were trying to get done the last two days. We're just onto the next game now and humbled to be able to go to Game 3 in their building."

Barry Brown Jr top-scored for the Breakers with 19 points, three rebounds and three steals with Jarrell Brantley contributing 17 points, nine boards, three steals and two blocks, and Dererk Pardon 15 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.

Breakers coach Mody Maor has full faith in his team bouncing back in Game 3 on Sunday.

"We got outplayed today. JackJumpers responded and played great, we didn’t defend to the level we defend and our offence was a little bit stagnant," Maor said.

"Some of it came from just missing some good open threes and we'll play better next time. There are things from a tactical standpoint we can do better with and we will do better with. 

"Other than that, there's more fire in us. We're better from an intensity standpoint most times and we're a new team in new circumstances, and I think we really, really wanted it.

"Sometimes that takes you to a place that's not necessarily a positive one. But I have so much faith and trust in this group and they have overcome every challenge that's been thrown at them. I'm sure this is going to be very similar."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jarrell Brantley&#39;s been doing Jarrell Brantley things - and that&#39;s doing a bit of everything ?<br><br>The Breakers are down by four heading into the fourth. Can he lead them to victory? ?<br><br>Tune in on ESPN via Kayo Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/NqAWVnEdOF">pic.twitter.com/NqAWVnEdOF</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1626157783182897152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After a tough Game 1 on Sunday, Milton Doyle opened up with a three-pointer for Tasmania but New Zealand then answered with the next six points. 

It turned into a real grind for much of the rest of the first quarter before the JackJumpers ended up with a 9-2 run including a three on the quarter-time buzzer from Matt Kenyon to grab the 18-14 advantage.

It had been a struggle offensively with the JackJumpers shooting 36 per cent from the field and the Breakers 31 in the opening quarter.

Barry Brown Jr got going briefly to start the second quarter to help the Breakers regain the lead before Jack McVeigh answered with a three-pointer for Tasmania.

Three-point plays from Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon had New Zealand back on top but triples for the JackJumpers from Sean Macdonald, Doyle and McVeigh had the home team back in front.

It continued to be a tight affair, though, and by half-time scores were locked at 42-42 thanks to a buzzer-beating three ball again for Tasmania from Jarrad Weeks.

Brantley and Kenyon then traded three-pointers to start the second half and there were a couple of times the Breakers threatened to open up a handy lead, but the JackJumpers would respond each time.

New Zealand were back out to a five-point lead just before three quarter-time, but Tasmania answered with the next five points with a triple from Doyle and breakaway finish to Fabijan Krslovic to level things up again.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So nice they did it ????? ?<br><br>Quick poll - who&#39;s buzzer beater wins, Matt Kenyon&#39;s or this monster from Jarrad Weeks ?‍?<br><br>Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies ? <a href="https://t.co/gVDWldab9R">pic.twitter.com/gVDWldab9R</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1626150587564953600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The JackJumpers turned that into a 9-0 run to lead 64-60 at three quarter-time. That streak became 11 straight points for Tasmania with Doyle opening up the fourth quarter. Consecutive buckets to Rashard Kelly then had the home team on top by eight.

Pardon did score to bring New Zealand back within six and then Tasmania's lead grew to 11. On the sam possession where Brantley delivered a huge block on Will Magnay, the rebound ended up in the hands of Clint Steindl who hit the corner triple.

It was only fitting that with 2:25 to go, it was McVeigh who drained the dagger three for the JackJumpers to put his team up by 11 and they went on to win by 11 to force a decided Game 3 back at Spark Arena on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS – PLAYOFFS SERIES 1, GAME 2

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 89 (Doyle 23, McVeigh 16, Kenyon 11)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 78 (Brown Jr 19, Brantley 17, Pardon 15) 

BOX SCORE