JackJumpers control Kings in homecoming

The Tasmania JackJumpers enjoyed their first home NBL game in a month by starting on fire and keeping their foot on the throat of the Sydney Kings for the eventual 86-70 victory.

The JackJumpers returned to MyState Bank Arena for the first time since the opening night of the season when they lost a close one to Milton Doyle and Melbourne United.

Tasmania had won three of four games on the road in between and then came out on fire in their Ignite Cup clash on Wednesday night with the opening eight points, and to be leading 29-19 by quarter-time with Tyger Campbell landing all three of his attempts from long range.

The JackJumpers turned that into a 50-32 lead by half-time on the back of scoring the last 11 points of the opening half with that advantage getting out to 19 in the third frame.

The Kings did get a boost when Tasmania captain and imposing centre Will Magnay was ejected late in the third quarter for a technical foul following an unsportsmanlike in the first half.

The JackJumpers were still up 19 when that happened which remained the margin at three quarter-time. Even with the Kings scoring the first eight points of the last term, they couldn’t make serious inroads with Tasmania winning to improve to 4-2.

Campbell made 5/9 from deep on his way to 21 points and five assists with Josh Bannan impressive again with 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while Ben Ayre chimed in with 13 points.

Sydney are now 2-3 and unable to back up their ultra impressive win in Adelaide with superstar guard Kendric Davis having a night to forget with 10 points on 4/17 shooting.

Xavier Cooks did have 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Tim Soares 12 points, eight boards and three blocks with Jaylin Galloway top-scoring with 13 points. But shooting just 43 per cent and getting to the foul line 12 times wasn’t a winning Sydney formula.

The JackJumpers shot out of the blocks with new starter Nick Marshall scoring the first five points of the game before Tyger Campbell hit a three ball for the 8-0 lead, which became 11-3 when he hit a second three ball.

Tasmania then opened up a 13-3 advantage and were up 21-9 with another bucket to Marshall and a three-point play to captain Will Magnay.

Matthew Dellavedova managed his first three-point make with the Kings but still by quarter-time it was Tasmania in control leading 29-19 on the back shooting 6/12 from downtown.

A couple of Ben Ayre three balls to start the second period kept Tasmania up by double figures and then the JackJumpers closed the half scoring the last 11 points including Campbell nailing a fourth from deep to give the home team the 50-32 advantage by the break.

The JackJumpers pushed that lead out to 19 early in the third quarter when Campbell hit a fifth three-pointer. Even with Magnay ejected late in the period for a tech foul after the earlier unsportsmanlike, Tasmania were still up by 19 with 10 minutes to play.

Sydney did show signs of life with the first eight points of the last quarter but they could never get it back to single figures with Tasmania cruising to the 16-point win.

The JackJumpers head straight to Auckland to take on the New Zealand Breakers on Friday while the Kings prepare to host the Perth Wildcats at home on Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 – IGNITE CUP BY DISNEY+

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 86 (Campbell 21, Bannan 18, Ayre 13)

SYDNEY KINGS 70 (Galloway 13, Cooks 12, Soares 12)

BOX SCORE