In a heart-stopping finale, the Tasmania JackJumpers edged out the Perth Wildcats 84-79 in overtime, thanks to a trio of standout performances from imports Milton Doyle, Jordon Crawford, and Majok Deng. The thrilling contest saw the JackJumpers come from behind to snatch victory, capped off by Doyle’s buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent the game into extra time.
The home team struggled early, trailing 23-9 at the end of the first quarter, but clawed their way back into contention behind Doyle’s 20-point haul and Crawford and Deng’s 16 points apiece. Will Magnay’s double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds) also proved crucial in the win.
Perth’s Bryce Cotton led all scorers with 24 points, while Kristian Doolittle (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Keanu Pinder (7 points, 14 rebounds) threatened to steer the visitors to victory. However, the JackJumpers’ explosive 16-2 run in the fourth quarter turned the tide, and they took the lead for the first time with five minutes remaining.
In a see-sawing final minute of regulation, both teams traded leads, with Elijah Pepper’s three-pointer appearing to seal the win for Perth. But Ben Henshall’s calm free throws and Doyle’s dramatic buzzer-beater forced overtime, where Deng’s go-ahead triple with 25 seconds left secured the win for Tasmania.
The JackJumpers now sit at 2-2 on the season, while the Wildcats slump to 1-3. The electric atmosphere at MyState Bank Arena was palpable, with the home crowd erupting in joy as their team celebrated a hard-fought victory.
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