THE 15TH round of the National Basketball League (NBL) continues tonight with a clash between two finals contenders, when the Illawarra Hawks host the Tasmania JackJumpers at WIN Entertainment Centre in a game that could shape the ladder.

Both teams have already sustained a loss in Round 15, and with the 2024/25 season as tight as any, the opportunity to get back on the winners’ list could be vital for both sides.

Illawarra Hawks vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

Tuesday, January 7 @7:30pm
WIN Entertainment Centre

THE TEAMS

The Hawks were stunned in their clash against the Cairns Taipans and ended up being on the wrong end of one of the biggest upset in recent NBL history. The first-placed Hawks ended up losing to the bottom-placed Taipans in a high-scoring thriller on Friday night, a remarkable result considering Cairns had lost 15 in a row leading into the clash. Illawarra has been one of the strongest sides in NBL25, it has looked shaky at times throughout the fixture and will be eager to avoid a trend of dropping games it should win.

The JackJumpers were on a hefty winning streak coming into their most recent games, and had seemingly found their groove after a slow start to the season. They came up against a red-hot SEM Phoenix side at MyState Bank Arena on Sunday, a clash that put an end to their winning ways. In the absence of Will Magnay, the Phoenix stretched Tassie, gaining ascendancy inside the paint and handing the JackJumpers a 14-point loss at home.

LAST TIME THEY MET

These two teams have not locked horns since back in October. In that Round 4 clash, the Hawks were simply too good for the reigning champions at WIN Entertainment Centre. Sam Froling led the way with 21 points, while Tyler Harvey was not far behind with 19 points of his own. Illawarra dominated from start to finish, but that was when Tasmania was truly struggling to put put points on the board. The two teams have both had massive stretches of dominance since, shaping tonight as an intriguing clash.

KEY PLAYERS

For the home side, Froling will be crucial for their hopes. As mentioned above, the Phoenix had tremendous success pushing the ball into the paint and scoring inside against Tasmania. Froling has shown the ability to turn a game with his presence inside the paint at various stages this season, and has the perfect opportunity against an undersized Tasmania outfit to put the Hawks on his back and lead them to victory.

Although the JackJumpers ended up falling to the Phoenix, Jordan Crawford showed exactly what he is capable of in the second quarter, knocking down consecutive three-pointers to drag Tassie back into the contest. Although his season has been affected by poor form as well as injury, he seems to have found his rhythm in the last month and looks back to his best. If he can produce a 25-30 point scoring performance, it will certainly bode well for Tasmania’s chances in enemy territory.

PREDICITION

Illawarra by 11 points.