JackJumpers hold out 36ers in thriller

An undermanned Adelaide 36ers fought valiantly but new import David Johnson fired, and Will Magnay and Josh Bannan were strong, as Tasmania JackJumpers won 97-95 to close Saturday at CODE Sports NBL Blitz in Canberra.

There was a lot to like from what Adelaide did with Isaac White, Michael Harris and Flynn Cameron standing tall, but Johnson showed he'll be a significant addition for Tasmania with 25 points and four assists with 6/8 three-point shooting.

The front court pairing of Magnay (14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks) and Bannan (15 points, five rebounds, two assists) were strong including Bannan hitting a crucial shot late after his game winner two nights earlier.

It was the second, and last, game at the Blitz at the AIS Arena for both teams with Adelaide beating the Illawarra Hawks by 21 points back on Wednesday while the JackJumpers won an overtime thriller against the Cairns Taipans on Thursday.

The Sixers came into the game with a well under strength front court with the absence of Isaac Humphries, Montrezl Harrell and Ben Griscti while five-time MVP Bryce Cotton was still sitting out with knee soreness.

The JackJumpers were only missing Anthony Drmic from their new-look team for NBL26 and what eventuated was probably the closest game this week at the Blitz that resembled a regular season contest.

It was Adelaide narrowly leading 22-21 by quarter-time before the JackJumpers added 23 points to 19 in the second period to be leading 44-41 by half-time.

Tasmania pushed that advantage out to six by three quarter-time with a 32-point third frame but the 36ers kept on fighting. It was Flynn Cameron especially who kept on making big plays having crossed from Melbourne United in the off-season.

Cameron hit a huge three with 30 seconds to go to make it a one-point ball game, but ultimately the biggest shot of the game was a buzzer-beater from Bannan on the next possession with Tasmania holding on for the two-point win.

On top of what Johnson, Bannan and Magnay provided for the JackJumpers, Majok Deng geared up for NBL26 having just finished playing with South Sudan with 13 points and six rebounds.

New import point guard Tyger Campbell had 10 points and eight assists with Bryce Hamilton contributing nine points, two assists and two steals, and Nick Marshall nine points and three rebounds against his former team.

Isaac White finished with 18 points and five assists for Adelaide on the back of his MVP season with Rockingham Flames in NBL1 West while Michael Harris had 18 points on 3/6 three-point shooting.

Zylan Cheatham added 17 points and six rebounds for the Sixers, Flynn Cameron 15 points, five boards and three assists, and captain DJ Vasiljevic 14 points.

The 36ers will head to Mount Gambier to play an NBL1 Select team on Thursday September 11 ahead of playing Panathinaikos BC as part of the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament in Sydney on Sunday September 21.

Adelaide will then start their NBL26 at home to the Brisbane Bullets on Sunday September 28 but before that, Tasmania starts the season at home to Melbourne United on Thursday September 18.

CODE SPORTS NBL PRE-SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 97 (Johnson 25, Bannan 15, Magnay 14)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 95 (Harris 18, White 18, Cheatham 17)

BOX SCORE