'It doesn't look good': Roth concerned for star

Just when the Tasmania JackJumpers seemed to have their mojo during the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season, they suffered potentially another huge blow to their title chances.

Late in their two-point loss to Melbourne United, star big man Will Magnay limped off with an apparent foot injury and did not return.

If Magnay was to miss time, it would significantly hurt the JackJumpers' hopes.

"I won't know [the severity of the injury] obviously until we get back to Hobart, but it's probably not very good," Scott Roth said in Saturday's post-game press conference.

"But yeh, it is his foot."

Prior to Saturday's HoopsFest defeat, Tasmania has won three out of its past four games, thanks to Roth having his entire squad available, bar guard Sean Macdonald (knee) who is out for the season.

They've already had to work through the likes of David Johnson, Anthony Drmic, Majok Deng and Kobe Williamson all missing significant time through injury this season.

Despite the loss, in what Roth labelled a "slugfest", Roth was happy with his team's fight.

"They're always the same battles [against United]," he said.

"It's just like groundhog's day [as we've played them three times in quick succession]. It was a really good fight and a really good game to be in. But we came up a little short, so credit to them (United).

"We couldn't make really a shot from the perimeter at all, and our free throws were poor again, which has been a little bit of a problem.

"But credit [to our boys], they fought and scrapped away at it. It was a game of makes and misses, and they made a few more than us. That's just how it is."

Next up for Tasmania, who will be sweating on the fitness of Paris Olympian Magnay, is a trip to Sydney on Thursday to face the Kings, from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.