ONE OF the most intriguing factors of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season to date has been the race for sixth spot on the ladder heading towards the play-in, and another chapter will be written tonight when the Tasmania JackJumpers take on the Cairns Taipans.

The JackJumpers are currently clinging to the position with four rounds to play, but have recently lost their two most important players to injury in Will Magnay and Bryce Hamilton for the remainder of the season, so it is suddenly an uphill battle.

There is no doubt that the Taipans will be looking to play party pooper to a Tasmania team that is fighting to keep its season alive, and with Cairns boasting home court advantage, the hosts will strongly believe they are every chance to get the job done and throw another spanner in the works.

Cairns Taipans vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

Cairns Convention Centre
Friday, January 30 @7:30pm

The Taipans will not be able to qualify for the postseason, but will still be eager to upset the apple cart in the final month of the season, and that mission starts tonight when they face off against a Tassie side desperate to stay alive.

Cairns has shown its potential throughout the season, particularly when its big names are firing. The Taipans have got the job done against the JackJumpers recently, and will be licking their lips at the opportunity to take on the 2024 NBL Champions missing their biggest and best players in Queensland tonight.

One player who will be certainly up for a big matchup tonight is Jack McVeigh, who seems to go to another level when playing against his former side. The NBL champion has been in good form of late despite the wins not coming through, but has the perfect opportunity to get his Taipans on the board tonight if he reaches his offensive ceiling.

The JackJumpers seemed to find some form between December and January, and looked to be making a strong charge towards the postseason. However, they were dealt a double blow in the form of Hamilton and Magnay receiving significant injuries, and the equation is much more complex for the remainder of the fixture.

Head coach Scott Roth is renowned as a problem sovler, but this may seem too tall a task, especially with the New Zealand Breakers and the Illawarra Hawks both vying for that position on the ladder. However, the Taipans have struggled this season, and regaining Majok Deng from concussion will be crucial to their chances.

The JackJumpers have lost their main scoring man in Hamilton, so they will certainly need some offensive spark from somewhere else. Enter David Johnson. The import forward had a strong start to the season, but lost time due to injury, and upon his return, played the second fiddle to Hamilton. Tonight, he gets his chance to be the main man, and could lead his team to a road win.