Preview: Tasmania vs South East Melbourne - Round 12, NBL24

Monday, 25 December at 5:30pm AEDT | MyState Bank Arena 

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports | International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Tasmania sits second with results around them going their way over the weekend, but with the Kings and Wildcats waiting in the wings, they'll need to find some consistency, and fast. 

For the Phoenix, just making the Finals is becoming more challenging by the game. They've been up and down all season - at times they look like world beaters, then one game later they look destined for the bottom two. 

With back-to-back losses to Perth and the Kings in Round 11, the JackJumpers claimed the win against the Hawks in Illawarra to revive their momentum leading into Christmas. 

The Phoenix had an eye-opening Round 11, leaving many questions about this team going into a stretch without their star Mitch Creek.

They were demolished in the Throwdown last Thursday, then smashed in Traralgon by the Illawarra Hawks in the first half. 

Mike Kelly's team also dropped its Friday night clash to Cairns, with a 19-point loss in Far North Queensland.

The question for the Phoenix going into Christmas Day will be, who can actually step up in the absence of Creek? 

Tasmania
89-100 win over Illawarra
90-82 loss to Sydney
89-88 loss to Perth

South East Melbourne 
94-75 loss to Cairns
78-106 loss to Melbourne 
72-100 loss to Illawarra

Jack McVeigh 
In his third season with the JackJumpers, Jack McVeigh is having a career year – averaging his highest averages in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage. 

Coming off a 22-point performance against the Kings and then putting up 11 points, six rebounds and five assists against the Hawks on Saturday night, his all-round game is bound to cause the Phoenix’s defence issues on Christmas day. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack McVeigh from deep is inevitable ?‍?<br><br>Watch live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach &amp; 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/ZmFndMBZ7Q">pic.twitter.com/ZmFndMBZ7Q</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1736226362174669091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gary Browne 
Across the Phoenix’s three losses, the star import has only averaged 11.3 points, shooting 34 per cent from the field – significantly down from his season average. 

He undoubtedly has the ability to take over a game, putting up four 20-plus point games this season alone. But without Creek, the Phoenix are desperate for anyone to fill the void in scoring – Browne simply has to step up.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gary Browne stays crafty in the paint ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/ptsA3jIGFd">pic.twitter.com/ptsA3jIGFd</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1738125134844555371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


“They just got to lift, and in particular it’s got to be Gary Browne,” Derek Rucker he said on NBL Now. 

“He’s got to be the one that drives this thing, we can’t really expect much from Abdel Nader [having been in Australia for a week] ... so now it’s up to Browne.” 

Derek Rucker has called on Phoenix import Gary Browne to "lift".

Alan Williams vs Will Magnay 
The matchup on Christmas will be two big units in Alan Williams and Will Magnay. 

Coming off a 29-point and eight-rebound performance against the Taipans, Alan Williams will be looking for more.

He's had an up-and-down month, but with averages of 17.9 points and 11.3 rebounds across NBL24, it's hard to deny he's among the league's elite talents. 

In the post-game press conference, Williams stated he’s made a point to not complain to referees and focus on the game, after getting into foul trouble in recent weeks.

“I was ecstatic to be able to get out there and play 30 minutes,” he said.

“But moving forward I want to maintain that same mentality.” 

While that may have worked against the Taipans, Williams will be coming into a hostile crowd at MyState Bank Arena and playing against “two-way” Magnay. 

With a myriad of injuries holding his progression back over the years, Magney has enjoyed an uninterrupted run and looked dominant once again on both ends in the win over Illawarra, despite playing just 13 minutes.

With back-to-back double-doubles in Round 11, then 13 points, seven rebounds and a hellacious dunk against the Illawarra Hawks – the former NBA big man has looked like himself heading into Christmas.

<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>

Tasmania
Nil

South East Melbourne
Mitch Creek – knee (TBC)
Gorjok Gak – minor procedure (TBC)
Craig Moller – knee (Season)