THE FINAL round of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) begins on the Apple Isle tonight, when the Tasmania JackJumpers host the Illawarra Hawks at MyState Bank Arena in a battle between the two most recent champions of the competition.

The top-six was determined when the Hawks and the New Zealand Breakers both suffered losses last weekend, locking the JackJumpers into sixth spot despite some pressure from the former two teams over recent weeks.

Although this game is a dead rubber, both teams will still have something to play for, with Tasmania looking to perfect its gameplan heading into the postseason, while the Hawks will be eager to finish their campaign on a high with a couple of wins this weekend.

Tasmania JackJumpers vs. Illawarra Hawks

MyState Bank Arena
Wednesday, February 18 @ 7:30pm

The JackJumpers have had a rollercoaster finish to the season, finding championship-calibre form last month before losing Will Magnay and Bryce Hamilton to injuries that ruled the pair out for the remainder of NBL26. However, the team still showed the signature Tasmanian grit that has been evident since the club’s inception, and is still capable of knocking off contenders come finals time.

Tonight presents the perfect opportunity to tweak the gameplan as needed ahead of a matchup against either Melbourne United or the Perth Wildcats. Given the FIBA break takes place between now and the play-in tournament, expect Scott Roth‘s men to ensure the head into the postseason with plenty of momentum under their belt.

Last week’s loss at the hands of the SEM Phoenix was not an ideal result, but one major positive out of the match came in the form of a career-night for Majok Deng, who dropped 36 points, which included 20 in the first quarter. If he can back up that outing tonight, it will show that the JackJumpers have a genuine match-winning scorer for their upcoming postseason campaign.

The Hawks have been unable to qualify for the postseason in what has been a disappointing title defence from last year’s winners. Despite adding some big names over the offseason, Illawarra was unable to back up last season’s performance, and will instead be watching the postseason action from home in the coming months.

However, they will certainly be looking to finish their campaign on a high note, starting with a win in Tasmania tonight. The talent is undoubtedly there for the Hawks to get the job done against the JackJumpers, and they will be coming out to play as hard as anyone and close out the 2025/26 season on a positive.

It may be JaVale McGee‘s final weekend in a Hawks uniform, although the big man has been a productive addition to the reigning champions. His presence inside has been a massive weapon for the Hawks throughout the season, and coming up against a Tassie side missing Magnay, could have the chance to feast with a big performance across the Bass Strait tonight.