TWO MATCHES more than 2300km apart will provide NBL fans with plenty of basketball action tonight as Round 5 of the NBL rolls on at Spark Arena and Brisbane Entertainment Centre. We take a look at the first of those clashes which promise to provide plenty of fascinating matchups and early bragging rights for sides.

New Zealand Breakers vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

Spark Arena
Friday, October 17 @ 5:30pm AEDT

Tasmania JackJumpers have been in ripping form to start the year, winning four of their past five games and sitting pretty in third spot with a 4-2 record on the season. They have been terrific on the road having already played four away matches, winning three of them, and are fresh off a strong 16-point win over Sydney Kings on Thursday night.

How the quick turnaround and long distance trip within 46 hours will affect them is the question mark, taking on a fresh New Zealand Breakers side that will have to make a similarly quick turnaround to head to Melbourne on Saturday where they take on Melbourne United.

The Jackies were outstanding in the win over the Kings, with Josh Bannan‘s double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds – as well as six assists – causing all sorts of issues. They showed that with him and Tyger Campbell (21 points, five assists and two rebounds) standing up, the JackJumpers can overcome a quieter game from star and skipper Will Magnay.

If you are as only as good as your last match, then New Zealand’s dominant home victory against fellow bottom two battler Illawarra Hawks was as impressive as it gets. Neither team has set the world on fire this season, but piling on a whopping 117 points – including 30 points in three of the quarters – the Breakers’ offence was simply sublime.

The one man the Jackies will be circling to try and contain on offence is Parker Jackson-Cartwright who just reminded everyone of his quality, dishing off a ridiculous 17 assists to go with 20 points, six rebounds and two steals in a brilliant night. He had stacks of support though with Sam Mennenga (20 points, eight rebounds) and Karim Lopez (16 points, nine rebounds and four steals) getting plenty of looks and protecting the rim at both ends.

Tasmania has clearly been the better side this season, but the victory over the Hawks could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Breakers to go on with it here, and have the extra rest compared to the JackJumpers. New Zealand by two points in an upset.