JackJumpers eventually overrun Snakes in Cairns

The Tasmania JackJumpers could never shake off the Cairns Taipans until a late 15-4 run but overcame a tough shooting night by dominating the possession game for the 81-68 road win.

The JackJumpers arrived at the Cairns Convention Centre after a commanding win in Gippsland over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday while the Taipans were also feeling good after an away win to the Illawarra Hawks.

The Snakes also welcomed back both Sam Waardenburg and Jack McVeigh but were still without Reyne Smith with Mojave King joining him on the sidelines, but the home team made a blistering start.

Cairns scored the game first 13 points and it took almost five minutes for Tasmania to score thanks to a three-pointer from Bryce Hamilton.

The Taipans were still leading 21-13 by quarter-time and 39-37 at half-time, but the JackJumpers dominated the second half including a late 12-0 run sparked by David Johnson to win by 13.

Tasmania did only shoot 38 per cent from the field, but dominated the possession game with 21 offensive rebounds to five with the Taipans also having 10 turnovers which saw the JackJumpers attempt an extra 18 shots and six more free throws.

Josh Bannan posted 20 points and 13 rebounds, while imports Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson had 13 points apiece with 11 of those coming in the game's last three minutes.

Captain Will Magnay hauled in 13 boards to go with his nine points, three blocks and two assists with former Snake Majok Deng adding nine points and five rebounds.

Former JackJumpers championship hero Jack McVeigh returned after missing last week awaiting the birth of his first child and top-scored for Cairns with 24 points with eight rebounds and four assists.

Andrew Andrews also had 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Sam Waardenburg (eight points, six rebounds), making his long-awaited season debut following ankle surgery, soared for an alley-oop dunk from an Andrews lob for the first score of the game.

The JackJumpers missed their first eight shots before finally getting on the board when Hamilton hit a three at the 5:10 mark.

Waardenburg sent a scare through the Cairns camp in his comeback match when, after crashing to the ground on a missed drive, he punched an LED display in frustration.

He sat out the last five minutes of the second stanza to have his bruised, bleeding right hand treated before returning after half-time.

The Taipans' 21-13 quarter-time lead was slashed to 39-37 at the main break as Bannan got going after a slow start.

Bannan then spearheaded an 11-0 Tasmanian burst in the third quarter to give the visitors their first lead of the game, and they led 60-54 at three quarter-time.

The JackJumpers destroyed the Snakes on the offensive glass 16-3 across the middle two quarters.

Cairns briefly drew level early in the fourth quarter, before capitulating at both ends down the stretch.

The Taipans remain at home to play host to the New Zealand Breakers on Friday night while the JackJumpers have until next Sunday when they play host to the Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

CAIRNS TAIPANS 68 (McVeigh 24, Andrews 18, Waardenburg 8)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Bannan 20, Johnson 13, Hamilton 13)

BOX SCORE