Preview: Round 17 v JackJumpers | Nissan Arena

The Brisbane Bullets host the Tasmania JackJumpers at Nissan Arena in Round 17, presented by Bob Jane T-Marts.

When: 4.30pm (AEST), Saturday 26 March, 2022
Where: Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo

Tickets: Available HERE

Who won last time?
Brisbane 94 (Franks 23, Patterson 16, Deng 14, Sobey 14) d Tasmania 86 (McIntosh 21, McVeigh 21, Magette 15)  – Round 13, Nissan Arena, Brisbane

The Bullets were simply too good for the Tasmanians, with a 31-15 run surrounding half-time creating a gap the visitors couldn’t reel in as Brisbane dominated inside. Power forwards MiKyle McIntosh and Jack McVeigh combined for 42 points for Tassie, while counterparts Robert Franks and Deng Deng added 37 at 59 per cent.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST START?
Friday night was a dramatic and wonderful night of basketball in the Hungry Jack’s NBL, and most memorable for Bullets and JackJumpers fans. Anthony Drmic will go down in Brisbane folklore for his game-winning triple as his team retrieved a seven-point deficit in 22 seconds, with Deng Deng the unsung hero for his high-IQ intercept and kick-ahead pass.

Tasmania also produced an impressive escape act on Friday, having given up a 12-point second-quarter lead, they found themselves three points down with two minutes to play in Perth. But as they had all night, Clint Steindl and McVeigh stood tall, then Josh Adams delivered a clutch contested triple to move Tassie back within 2.5 games of the top four.

WHO’S IN FORM?
Robert Franks – Franks has been very impressive for the Bullets, averaging 23.3 points and 9 rebounds his past six games, while draining a staggering 21/39 from the arc. He went 9/11 inside on Friday, exploiting New Zealand’s defence, and he’ll need to do the same against the Magnay-less JackJumpers.

Jack McVeigh – In the toughest NBL environment, McVeigh was great on Friday with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 dimes. His catch-and-shoot game is well known, but his composure on penetration is a new string to his bow. Last time against Brisbane he dropped 21 points, while in Tasmania’s past eight wins he’s averaged 15.2ppg at 40 per cent from deep.

WHO’S MATCHING UP?
Jason Cadee v Josh Magette – When you talk about high IQ point guards, these two fit the bill. Cadee was superb against NZ with 11 points and 11 assists as he masterminded their offence. In Brisbane wins this season he’s averaged 7.3 dimes. Magette didn’t have a great statline in Perth, but he had just 1 turnover in 35 minutes as he owned the tempo and made sure the Cats were starved of open-court scores.

STAT LEADERS

BULLETS
Points: Robert Franks 18.1ppg (#5 in the NBL)
Rebounds: Robert Franks, 8.3rpg (#6 in the NBL)
Assists: Jason Cadee, 5.1apg (#6 in the NBL)
Blocks: Tyrell Harrison, 1.2bpg (#8 in the NBL)

JACKJUMPERS
Points: Josh Adams, 15.6ppg
Rebounds: Will Magnay, 5.5rpg
Assists: Josh Magette, 5.9apg (#2 in the NBL)
Blocks: Will Magnay, 2.1bpg (#2 in the NBL)

ON THE RECORD

They say the harder you work, the luckier you get, and Brisbane’s astonishing comeback win over the Breakers was evidence of that.

“Credit to the boys for continuing to fight and fight and fight and put themselves into a position to win the game at the end,” coach James Duncan said.

“It's been a crazy season, we've experienced some of those situations where you're just a little bit unlucky, and tonight luck was on our side.”

No one typifies hard work at the Bullets more than Deng Deng and Anthony Drmic, so it was fitting they were involved in the stunning final play.

Deng’s involvement in that match-winner was integral. While he initially covered Abercrombie, who was closer to the ball, he made an excellent read on Will McDowell-White’s long pass and came up with a trademark hustle play at the most important moment.

“He just brings that defensive energy, tipped balls, aggressive on-ball defence, grabbing the d-rebounds, obviously at the end there he stole the ball and made a pretty smart decision kicking it ahead to Drim,” Duncan said.

“That’s been his role and he’s dived into that role and he’s been excelling at that.”

His partner-in-crime off the bench has been Drmic, whose past two games have produced 29 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 o-boards and 3 steals, while shooting 5/12 from long range.

“Even last game with Drim, he played so hard,” Duncan said.

“Last game he left it all on the floor asking for subs a couple of times because he as so exhausted. We didn’t get rewarded last game but this game it was basically the same thing and we did get rewarded.”