Hawks cop hammering as Tassie bounce back

The Tasmania JackJumpers have snapped back to form, Jordon Crawford and Will Magnay dominant as they trounced the Illawarra Hawks 100-89.

A pair of last-round losses had dented the side's top two hopes and Scott Roth's men took their disappointment out on the Hawks.

They restricted the hosts to just 10 points in the first quarter on Saturday at WIN Entertainment Centre, Magnay and Crawford then providing the offensive flourish as the lead hit 25 late in the second quarter.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Do ??? give Jordon Crawford the chance ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo <a href="https://t.co/M9goKKE5wn">pic.twitter.com/M9goKKE5wn</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1738453420418158868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It had been a Hawks team coming into the contest with some momentum having been rejuvenated under interim coach Justin Tatum. In the four games since he replaced Jacob Jackomas, Illawarra had won three and only lost to the Brisbane Bullets at the buzzer, but especially early on Saturday it was more like the side from earlier in NBL24.

The Hawks had no answer for the JackJumpers with the offensive rebounding especially emphatic from Tasmania who pulled down 18 o-boards for 20 second chance points.

Crawford (20 points) relished any open space, torching the Hawks with 3-of-7 triples while Magnay was a problem around the rim.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Magnay wants HIS turn ?<br><br>???? is going on tonight?!?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo <a href="https://t.co/6w8VBNadPZ">pic.twitter.com/6w8VBNadPZ</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1738457284504674333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He had 13 points and seven rebounds in just 13 minutes, flushing an incredible one-handed jam after rolling to the rim and somehow catching a lob pass between two flying Hawks defenders.

Magnay is still working his way back to being able to play more minutes after a foot injury delayed his start to the season, but the centre was again imposing albeit going 1-of-6 at the foul line left him frustrated.

While Crawford and Magnay starred, it was the all-round performance from the JackJumpers that made them so impressive.

Seven players scored nine points or more and the shooting punch provided by Clint Steindl (15 points) and Sean Macdonald (11) was crucial. They combined to shoot 8-of-13 from behind the three-point line and both were plus-22 when on the court.

Jack McVeigh also got going a little in the second half for 11 points while MVP fancy Milton Doyle still had seven assists even if only scoring nine points.

Illawarra's Sam Froling (22 points, 11 rebounds) had earlier produced his own contender for dunk of the season, launching over Majok Deng.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh my Sam Froling - that is a ??? ??????? ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo <a href="https://t.co/EkoY6Iol3D">pic.twitter.com/EkoY6Iol3D</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1738456169658638555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Froling battled hard for the hosts, while Tyler Harvey (12 points, five assists) continued his good form and Gary Clark finished with 18 points.

Hawks import Justin Robinson clutched at his lower back after bouncing into a signage board behind the rim in the final quarter.

The Hawks will need to regroup quickly ahead of a Christmas Day evening clash with Sydney, while the JackJumpers host the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Hobart earlier in the day.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 12

ILLAWARRA HAWKS 89 (Froling 22, Clark 18, Harvey 12)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 100 (Crawford 20, Steindl 15, Magnay 13)

BOX SCORE