IN ONE of the most remarkable finishes to a game so far throughout the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season, the Tasmania JackJumpers erased a 16-point deficit in the final quarter to shock the Sydney Kings and claim a one-point win.

The JackJumpers looked down and out with seven minutes to play in the final frame, with the Kings in control at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon, before Tasmania began peppering the paint to draw within one point in the closing seconds of the contest.

Then, the Kings began to feel the pressure down the stretch, committing some crucial errors to allow the JackJumpers a chance to win it, and the visitors made no mistake, with Nick Marshall the hero for Tasmania with a game-winning drive into the paint.

Sydney Kings (89) def. by Tasmania JackJumpers (90)

The JackJumpers travelled to Sydney for the final game of the round, and looked to attack the basket in the first quarter. It proved a winning strategy, with Tassie nailing 13 of its first 16 shots from the field in a physical start to proceedings. Although the Kings were keeping up well given the JackJumpers’ efficiency, the hosts still trailed by four at quarter time.

The Kings bounced back in the second frame, taking the lead on the back of an improved level of output from their big names. Star guard Kendric Davis was the driving force of this, getting into his rhythm on the offensive end, and it is well-known that once he gets going, it often bodes well for the Kings. Sydney had turned its four-point deficit into a five-point buffer at the main change, and looked much better heading into half-time.

That momentum rolled into the third quarter, and still it was Davis who was the focal point offensively for the Kings. Things went from bad to worse for the JackJumpers when star import Bryce Hamilton picked up his fourth foul and was forced to return to the bench, which took a lot of power away from a scoring perspective. At the final change, Sydney was in complete control and led by 15 points heading into the last term.

Trailing by 16 points with seven minutes on the clock, the never-say-die JackJumpers began to slowly chip away at the deficit. However, it still looked like a pipe dream, especially when Hamilton fouled out, which took away Tasmania’s most dangerous offensive player. Despite this, the JackJumpers went on a 10-0 run in the final 10 minutes, with Will Magnay starting to have his way inside the paint.

The Kings began to feel the heat, with Sydney players beginning to miss free throws, which kept Tasmania’s hopes alive, and suddenly, the JackJumpers were within a point in the final 20 seconds. Disastrously, Xavier Cooks turned the ball over on an inbounds pass along the baseline, with Magnay getting a hand on it and dishing the ball over to Marshall. In transition, he was able to find his way to the basket, finishing the layup through traffic as time expired to complete a remarkable comeback.

It was a team performance from the JackJumpers, with all five starters scoring double-digits, and it was Hamilton and the in-form Josh Bannan who led the way with 18 points each. Magnay was crucial to the comeback with 15 points, while match-winning hero Marshall finished with 14 points, and point guard Tyger Williams was productive with 10 points and eight assists.

Davis was still the leading scorer for the match with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists despite the loss, while Jaylin Galloway had his best game of the season with 18 points and played with plenty of confidence.