Magnay powers JackJumpers over United

Will Magnay dominated inside all night for the Tasmania JackJumpers and then sealed the deal with a triple late to give him a career-high 27 points in the 84-75 win at home to Melbourne United.

The JackJumpers were in control of the contest at MyState Bank Arena most of the evening but they could never quite put Melbourne away and it was back to a five-point game when Milton Doyle hit a three with a minute to play on his old home floor.

That's when Magnay was wide open from behind the three-point line as he caught the pass from Bryce Hamilton and knocked down the three ball to secure the nine-point win for the JackJumpers.

Magnay finished the night with a career-best 27 points to go with 13 rebounds, three blocks and two steals on 12/18 shooting from the floor in more than 36 minutes – also a career-high.

The win keeps the JackJumpers solid in sixth spot at 11-13 with Josh Bannan also finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists while David Johnson contributed 11 points and three boards, Nick Marshall 10 points and five rebounds, and Hamilton 10 points, two boards and two assists.

Having won their first nine games of the season, United have now lost six of their past eight and drop to third on the ladder.

Tyson Walker did all he could to keep Melbourne in touch and having to do a power of work in the continued absence of Shea Ili. He cramped late but played 33 minutes on his way to 20 points, three rebound and two assists with 7/10 shooting.

Former JackJumpers championship hero Milton Doyle also had 17 points and six assists despite 6/15 shooting while Kyle Bowen stepped up again in the absence of Finn Delany to start in his 100th NBL game for nine points, six rebounds and four assists.

Tasmania had their noses in front 19-16 at the end of a tit-for-tat first quarter in which Walker led the way with seven points.

Magnay got going early in the second quarter with eight points in a matter of minutes as the JackJumpers extended their lead for a 44-35 advantage at the main break.

Magnay had 14 points and five rebounds by the midway point, as Tasmania kept Melbourne to their lowest first-half score of the season.

Melbourne shot just 2/11 three-pointers for the half with Walker having 13 of their 35 points with him shooting 5/6 overall and the rest of his team 10/26.

Magnay and Bannan combined for 25 points and eight rebounds in that first half, and that would prove the story of the night with Jesse Edwards largely ineffectual for Melbourne dealing with foul trouble and finishing with just five points and nine rebounds.

Having now just completed six games in 14 days, the JackJumpers don't play again until taking on the league-leading 36ers in Adelaide on Friday while United host the Cairns Taipans in Bendigo on Wednesday night.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 84 (Magnay 27, Bannan 14, Johnson 11)

MELBOURNE UNITED 75 (Walker 20, Doyle 17, Bowen 9)

BOX SCORE