R14 Preview: Tasmania JackJumpers vs New Zealand Breakers

WHEN: 7:30PM NZDT, Saturday 5^th March 2022

WHERE: Silverdome Launceston

BROADCAST: Sky Sport 3

This is the third of the four meetings between these teams this season.

After winning four in a row, the Jack Jumpers have now lost three of their past four including last two.

New Zealand have also lost three of their past four games including last two in a row. 

Round 4: Tasmania 84 def New Zealand 75 in Hobart
Round 9: Tasmania 83 def New Zealand 59 in Hobart 

The last time these teams played, the Breakers starters included Yanni Wetzell, William McDowell-White and Ousmane Dieng all who missed their last game on Tuesday night with injuries. 

Josh Magette had his best game of the season last time these teams played with 22-points and 8 assists with 0 turnovers with 7-from-11 three-pointers. 

Peyton Siva has missed both games against Tasmania so far.
In the last five games, Siva has scored more points, dished more assists and recorded more steals that any other Breaker and on Tuesday had a season high 8 assists against the Hawks with an equal season high 4 steals. 

In their last two games, New Zealand have given up 100-points with 108 scored by United and 102 by Illawarra. That is the first time under Dan Shamir they have given up a century in consecutive games. 

While the Jack Jumpers are playing at the Silverdome for the first time, the Breakers are very familiar having played six ‘home’ games in Launceston last season which they split in results 3-3. 

The six games at the Silverdome last year were eventful from the first game when Bryce Cotton hit a miraculous shot on the final buzzer to send the game to overtime. William McDowell-White recorded a rare triple-double against the Bullets before Josh Giddey also posted his first T/D of his professional career which will probably be a trivia question for many years to come.  

Most points by Breakers players at Silverdome:
25 Finn Delany vs Wildcats
23 Finn Delany vs 36ers
23 Finn Delany vs Taipans
20 Levi Randolph vs Bullets 

A handful of Jack Jumpers players did suit up at the Silverdome last season for their previous team. Jarrad Weeks suited up 4 times for the Breakers – but all were DNP’s. Jarred Bairstow and Clint Steindl played twice for the Wildcats, Fabijan Krslovic was in uniform for a Cairns win and Jack McVeigh was a visitor for the 36ers.  

When the Jack Jumpers were in Launceston in the pre-season, development player Sejr Deans made his debut in the starting five of their game against Cairns at the Elphin Sports Centre to give his home city a chance to see him in action but is yet to see any court-time in an official game.  Tasmania has lost all four games he has suited up in so far. 

Tasmania Last 7 games and upcoming schedule:
Round 9: Sunday 30^th Jan away to New Zealand (Hobart) (Won 83-59)
Round 10: Friday 4^th Feb at home to Kings (Won 77-70)
Round 10: Sunday 6^th Feb away to United  (Won 94-85)
Round 11: Sunday 13^th Feb away to Phoenix (Lost 71-83)
Round 12: Sunday 20^th Feb away to Hawks (Won 96-86)
Round 13: Saturday 26^th Feb away to Bullets (Lost 86-94)
Round 13: Monday 28^th Feb at home vs Wildcats (Lost 78-89)
Round 14: Saturday 5^th March at home vs Breakers (Launceston)
Round 15: Friday 11^th March away vs Taipans
Round 15: Sunday 13^th March at home vs Hawks
Round 16: Saturday 19^th March at home vs Hawks (Launceston) 

New Zealand Breakers Last 6 games and upcoming schedule:
Round 9: Sunday 30^th Jan home vs Jack Jumpers (Hobart) (Lost 59-83)
Round 10: Wednesday 2^nd Feb home vs Hawks (Hobart) (Won 90-67)
Round 10: Sunday 6^th Feb away to Kings (Lost 65-84)
Round 11: Monday 14^th Feb away to Taipans (Won 84-83)
Round 12: Sunday 20^th Feb away to United (Lost 73-108)
Round 13: Tuesday 1^st March home vs Hawks (Hobart) (Lost 87-102)
Round 14: Saturday 5^th March away to Jack Jumpers (Launceston)
Round 14: Monday 7^th March home vs Bullets (Hobart)
Round 15: Saturday 12^th March home vs 36ers (Adelaide 36ers Arena)
Round 15: Monday 14^th March home vs Wildcats (Hobart)
Round 16: Sunday 20^th March away to Wildcats