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JackJumpers grinch to Breakers Christmas

A barrage of three-pointers by Jordon Crawford helped seal another defeat for the Breakers, this time 97-82 to the JackJumpers.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright wasl top scorer for the Breakers in their loss to the Tasmania JackJumpers PHOTO: NZ BREAKERS/GETTY IMAGES

A barrage of three-pointers by Jordon Crawford helped seal another defeat for the Breakers, this time 97-82 to the JackJumpers.


Crawford nailed 26 points including six three-pointers after coming off the bench as the JackJumpers made it seven straight wins while the Breakers slumped to an eighth consecutive defeat.


The Breakers have have gone winless in all seven matches since the FIBA break where they replaced Freddie Gillespie with 7'6 centre Tacko Fall.


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Precious little separated the two teams most of the evening too with Fall significant in the first half for New Zealand with seven points, five rebounds and two blocks with his team plus-15 in his minutes.


Tasmania were leading at the half 42-39 largely thanks to 16 points with four three-pointers from Crawford despite them not making a free-throw.


New Zealand hurt themselves going 5-of-12 before the JackJumpers did manage to push their lead out to nine by three quarter-time before completing the deal for the 15-point victory.


Tasmania have improved from 3-8 in their championship defence to be 10-8 in fourth position while shooting 12/27 from deep with Crawford making 6/9 for 26 points along with four assists.


Majok Deng stepped up in the absence of Will Magnay (broken toe) with 20 points and seven rebounds on 11/13 free-throw shooting with Reuben Te Rangi delivering another 12 points, and Milton Doyle eight points and five assists.


The Breakers remain second last at 7-11 having lost eight in-a-row while only shooting 4/23 from long-range and 16/28 at the foul line.


Fall finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks with Parker Jackson-Cartwright top-scoring with 23 points and six assists with Mojave King adding 12 points, three boards and three assists.


The two teams were in vastly contrasting form coming into the Christmas Day spectacle and no more than four points separated them through the first quarter but the JackJumpers managed the last five points through Majok Deng and Anthony Drmic to lead 20-18 at quarter-time.


New Zealand started the second quarter on fire with the first nine points starting with a dunk to Tacko Fall and including Matt Mooney knocking down a three-pointer as they opened up a game-high seven-point edge.


Tasmania responded with 10 of the next 12 points to retake the lead with Jordon Crawford and Clint Steindl also hitting three-pointers in that stretch.


Crawford also made a couple more threes before half-time to go into the break with 16 points for the JackJumpers. The home team were leading 42-39 on 56 per cent shooting despite only taking one free-throw while the Breakers got there 12 times, but only made five.


Fall was having a significant impact for New Zealand with them outscoring Tasmania by 15 with his time on the floor before things remained tight throughout the third quarter.


Just as the Breakers got back level thanks to Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Tasmania closed the term on an 8-2 run to go into three quarter-time leading 64-58 before Crawford pushed it out to nine with three free throws to open the fourth.


Mojave King did bring New Zealand back within four points, but Tasmania continued to have the answers including a three-point play from Milton Doyle before it blew out to the 15-point win.


The Breakers don't play again until being on the road to the Cairns Taipans next Tuesday for New Year's Eve.


Tasmania Jackjumpers 97 (Jordan Crawford 26, Majok Deng 20, Reuben Te Rangi 12) NZ Brekers 82 (Parker Jackson-Cartwright 23, Mojave King 12, Sam Mennenga 11, Tacko Fall 11)

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