ONE OF the most popular new traditions for the National Basketball League (NBL) is the Christmas Day fixture, and the 2024/25 season sees a double-header give fans plenty to be excited about.

As a part of the 12 consecutive days of games over the holiday period, the games do not stop for Christmas, and both games slated to take place are shaping as cracking contests that will play a huge role in the race for the finals.

Kicking things off will be an evening clash between the Tasmania JackJumpers and the New Zealand Breakers at MyState Bank Arena, with the two teams in vastly different form of late.

The JackJumpers pulled off their sixth win in a row with a bold victory over Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Monday night. Tassie entered that clash underdogs, largely due to the injury to star big man Will Magnay, who will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a toe injury. Despite his absence, the JackJumpers shot the lights out in the first half and held on for a six-point win.

On the other hand, the Breakers have lost seven on the trot and have dramatically slid down the standings over the past month. Since the team added Tacko Fall at the expense of Freddie Gillespie, New Zealand has not been able to get back on the winners’ list and have fallen out of form at the wrong time of the fixture. However, in their tough loss to the Sydney Kings, the Breakers were much improved, and led for much of the match before the Kings closed the game on a 16-3 run, so there is hope for the visitors tonight.

Keep an eye on how the JackJumpers look to combat the seven-foot-six frame of Fall. New Zealand has run the deepest drop coverage the NBL has ever seen when he is on the floor, so look for an undersized Tassie outfit look to stretch the floor, while Fall himself will be eager to continue his good form scoring the ball at the rim.

The second game of the night sees a blockbuster matchup between the top two sides in the NBL as the Sydney Kings host the Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena in a season-shaping contest.

Both teams are in tremendous form of late, and it will be a battle between the best offensive side in the competition against one of the best defensive sides in the NBL.

The Kings have been suffocating their opponents of late, and restricting most sides to scores below 90 points. On the other end of the court, the Kings are finally getting plenty of production from their roster, and that is particularly shown in the recent form of Jaylen Adams. The former MVP point guard has been able to tick over 20 points at a consistent rate in the past month and will be a key player as he battles Illawarra’s talented backcourt, and the likely defensive pressure from Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

The Hawks have retained top spot in the standings after a rich run of form since the international break, and look the favourite for the title at this stage of the season. With an array of players that can take over on the offensive end, Illawarra currently is the most productive outfit in the NBL when it comes to scoring the ball, but face a Sydney side that has become renowned for slowing down even the most in-form teams in the competition. This game could be the litmus test for the Hawks when it comes to championship credentials, and it will be impossible to deny them favouritism if they get a road win over a firing Sydney team.