How to watch & talking points: Tasmania v New Zealand

26 Dec 2025

tasmania jackjumpers

new zealand beakers

The Tasmania JackJumpers host the New Zealand Breakers in a Boxing Day blockbuster at MyState Bank Arena.

Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers
Friday, December 26, 7.30pm AEDT
MyState Bank Arena

How to watch‍

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Tickets

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Talking points

Breakers' response
Just when it seemed like the Breakers had found their mojo (winning four games out of five), they crashed back to Earth with three straight losses, including losing to both Cairns and Brisbane in Round 13.

It's now on Petteri Koponen's team to respond, to try and keep their post-season hopes alive.

To do so, they will need to improve their defence, which is conceding 96.7 points a game across their past three defeats. That figure is much higher than their season mark of 89.4.

JackJumpers on the march
Don't look now, but here come the JackJumpers.

With David Johnson and Will Magnay back in the lineup, Scott Roth's side is close to being fully healthy and as a result, have won three of their past four games, including Tuesday's Open Air Game victory over Melbourne.

During this stretch, Tasmania has a top three defensive rating (104.4), opponent's field goal percentage (40.9) and opponent's points per game (1.04).

What they're saying

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth on building on their win over United:
"We just have to hit the repeat button which is something that we've been talking about for three or four weeks and just being able to duplicate things over and over again.

"There's a maturity and a growth area there when it comes to being able to solve problems quickly and when we are on point in those areas we play some good basketball, but the consistency has not been there throughout.

"We've had our moments and tonight was a moment, but now can we regroup here in three days and go play the Breakers who have given us humongous amounts of problem, and can we hit the repeat button and do some of these same things over and over again."

Breakers coach Petteri Koponen on his team responding:
"What I saw [last game], we were not staying together, and we were always complaining or blaming somebody else.

"I told the guys it’s time to look in the mirror, us coaches first and then everybody else, and ask what we can do better to help this team.

"Everything starts with effort, especially on the defensive end and rebounding. It’s all about playing hard and playing with effort."