NBL · Game Review

NBL game reviews – 2026-01-24

NBL Saturday Wrap: Taipans Fire, JackJumpers Edge Hawks in High-Scoring Slate

It was a big night of hoops in the NBL, with the Cairns Taipans lighting up the scoreboard against South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Tasmania JackJumpers grinding out a tough road win over the Illawarra Hawks. Bettors and fans alike were treated to high-octane offences, huge second-half surges, and some standout individual performances on both sides of the ball.

Across the slate, Cairns put up a massive 118–91 win over South East Melbourne, dominating the second half behind a spread of scoring and sharp playmaking. Later, Tasmania stayed composed to claim a 101–91 victory over Illawarra, overcoming a spirited fightback from the Hawks thanks to big nights from their stars and efficient execution down the stretch.

Below, we break down each game in detail, leaning on the numbers to show how the contests unfolded, who stepped up, and what it all might mean next time you’re lining up a bet using an odds comparison tool.

Cairns Taipans vs South East Melbourne Phoenix – Taipans Run Riot After Halftime

This matchup appears twice in the data under slightly different Phoenix naming (once as “S.E. Melbourne Phoenix” and once as “South East Melbourne Phoenix”), but the statistical records clearly refer to the same game. We’ll treat it as one contest and focus on the combined numbers.

Cairns ran out 118–91 winners at home, turning a halftime deficit into a complete blowout with a ruthless second-half display. At the main break, South East Melbourne led 52–49, having edged the first quarter 26–16 before the Taipans responded with a 33–26 second term.

After the long break, though, it was all Taipans. They won the third quarter 32–15 and the fourth 37–24, outscoring Phoenix 69–39 in the second half. For anyone on live totals or second-half markets, that surge was the decisive swing.

Balanced Taipans Scoring Fuels the 118-Point Explosion

One of the most striking aspects of this game was how many Cairns players contributed on the scoreboard. No single player had to drop 30+; instead, the Taipans spread the load and still cracked 118.

  • Angus Glover led the way with 22 points, nailing 5 three-pointers and adding strong all-round production with 22 PR (points + rebounds) and 27 PRA (points + rebounds + assists).
  • Wes Iwundu was a constant threat with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 made threes, good for 25 PR and 28 PRA.
  • Ian Clark chipped in 19 points, hitting 5 triples and posting 20 PR and 25 PRA.
  • Owen Foxwell contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, with an impressive 26 PRA and 18 PR.
  • John Brown and Jordan Hunter gave the Taipans solid frontcourt production: Brown finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists (for 18 PR and 20 PRA), while Hunter added 7 points, 6 rebounds and 13 PR.
  • Off the bench, DJ Mitchell and Malique Lewis combined for 15 points (9 and 6 respectively), with Lewis knocking down 2 threes.
  • Nathan Sobey played more of a table-setting role: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists and a healthy 18 PA (points + assists) and 11 PR.

Stat heads and prop bettors will notice how many Taipans cleared solid combo lines: Wew Iwundu (24 PA, 25 PR, 28 PRA), Glover (27 PA, 22 PR, 27 PRA), Clark (24 PA, 20 PR, 25 PRA), and Foxwell (21 PA, 18 PR, 26 PRA) all filled it up across multiple categories.

Defensive Pressure and Playmaking: Taipans Own the Little Things

Cairns didn’t just shoot the lights out; they made life miserable for Phoenix with active hands and smart decision-making.

  • Owen Foxwell was everywhere on defence, recording 4 steals, which drove his 5 total TOs + steals + blocks metric.
  • John Brown also nabbed 3 steals, totalling 5 in TOs + steals + blocks.
  • Malique Lewis added 2 steals, and the Taipans collectively applied pressure that forced Phoenix into a high number of turnovers.

On the playmaking side, Sobey and Foxwell were key:

  • Sobey’s 9 assists led all players and underpinned his 18 PA.
  • Foxwell’s 8 assists complemented his scoring and rebounding nicely.
  • Clark also chipped in with 5 assists, showing the Taipans’ ball movement wasn’t reliant on just one playmaker.

Phoenix Stars Fire, but Turnovers and Depth Hurt

South East Melbourne still had some big individual stat lines despite the heavy loss. Offensively, they kept pace early before unravelling as mistakes mounted.

  • Jack McVeigh top-scored for Phoenix with 21 points, including 2 threes, and padded the stat sheet with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 27 PR and 28 PRA. However, he also committed 7 turnovers, which really hurt in the TOs + steals + blocks metric (7).
  • Andrew Andrews piled up 20 points and 11 assists, giving him a massive 31 PA and 32 PRA, plus 21 PR. For assist or PRA markets, he delivered.
  • Kyrin Galloway was another bright spot with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 made threes and 21 PR/23 PRA.
  • Lachlan Barker and Mojave King rounded out the support cast: Barker put up 11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists (13 PR, 16 PRA, 14 PA), while King had 10 points, 8 boards, 1 assist and 3 threes (18 PR, 19 PRA).

The real damage, though, came from turnovers and limited impact from the Phoenix bench:

  • McVeigh (7 TOs) and Andrews (6 TOs) combined for 13 turnovers between them.
  • Big man Marcus Lee had some defensive highlights with 2 blocks and 1 steal, contributing 4 in TOs + steals + blocks, but only 2 points on the other end.
  • Role players like Lloyd McVeigh, Kody Stattmann, and Jed Richardson were held scoreless with minimal peripheral stats, limiting Phoenix’s depth scoring.

From a betting and analytical lens, this game showed how decisive second-half adjustments, depth scoring and turnover margins can be. Cairns not only erased the halftime deficit but blew the game wide open with a +30 second half, while multiple Taipans comfortably cleared points, threes and PRA lines.

Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers – JackJumpers Hold Off Hawks in 101–91 Road Win

In the later tip-off, the Tasmania JackJumpers picked up a quality away victory, defeating the Illawarra Hawks 101–91. Tasmania built their win on a strong first half, going into the rooms up 60–48, thanks largely to a huge 33–22 second quarter.

Illawarra made a push after the break, winning the third term 26–22 to cut into the margin, but the JackJumpers steadied in the fourth, edging it 19–17 to close out a 10-point win. For total points bettors, the final combined score of 192 comfortably landed this one in high-scoring territory.

Hawks’ Core Trio Leads the Charge in Defeat

Despite the loss, the Hawks got strong numbers from their main contributors, particularly in points, rebounds and assists.

  • Josh Bannan was outstanding with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 0 assists, delivering a massive 34 PR and 34 PRA. He also hit 1 three-pointer.
  • David Johnson matched the all-round output with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, combining for 29 PR, 25 PA and 33 PRA. He knocked down 3 threes as well.
  • Anthony Drmic added 13 points, 3 rebounds and 0 assists, finishing with 16 PR and 16 PRA. He was particularly effective from deep with 3 three-pointers.
  • Ben Ayre contributed a handy 12 points, 3 boards and 1 assist, good for 15 PR and 16 PRA.
  • Nick Marshall was all over the box score with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, putting up 14 PR, 16 PA and 21 PRA.

In terms of combined metrics, Bannan (34 PR, 34 PRA) and Johnson (29 PR, 33 PRA) were the standout stat-stuffers for Illawarra, while Marshall’s mix of scoring, rebounding and playmaking made him a key facilitator.

Hawks’ Defence: Impact Plays from Marshall and Johnson

Illawarra’s defensive numbers were highlighted by a couple of high-activity performances:

  • Nick Marshall recorded 3 steals and 1 block, totalling 4 in steals + blocks and also 4 in the TOs + steals + blocks metric (he did not turn the ball over).
  • David Johnson added 2 steals with 2 turnovers, landing at 4 in TOs + steals + blocks.
  • Ryley Haywood chipped in with 1 steal and 1 block, giving him 1 in the combined TOs + steals + blocks metric as he committed no turnovers.

However, the Hawks couldn’t consistently slow down Tasmania’s multi-pronged attack and were ultimately undone by the JackJumpers’ efficiency and depth.

JackJumpers’ Big Men and Backcourt Shine

Tasmania’s strength showed in how many players posted eye-catching lines across scoring, rebounding and playmaking.

  • JaVale McGee was a dominant presence, finishing with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. He added 2 steals and 2 blocks, building a monster 31 PR, 24 PA and 32 PRA, plus 5 in TOs + steals + blocks (2 TOs + 3 stocks).
  • Q.J. Peterson led the backcourt with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, knocking down 4 three-pointers. He totalled 24 PR, 25 PA and 30 PRA, and added 2 steals.
  • Sam Froling put together a solid all-round outing: 16 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 19 PR and 19 PRA.
  • William Hickey stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 1 rebound and 6 assists, totalling 16 PR, 21 PA and 22 PRA. He also notched 1 steal.
  • Daniel Grida matched that secondary scoring with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, giving him 14 PR and 16 PRA.
  • Off the bench, Mason Peatling was quietly effective with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, for 11 PR and 13 PRA, plus 1 steal and 1 block.

From a combined stats angle, McGee (32 PRA), Peterson (30 PRA), Hickey (22 PRA) and Grida (16 PRA) all delivered the type of lines that regularly feature in player prop markets. McGee’s blend of points, boards and defensive stocks, in particular, stood out as a match-winning effort.

Defensive Hustle and Turnovers: JackJumpers Do Enough

While this wasn’t a defensive slugfest, Tasmania created enough disruption to tilt the margins their way:

  • McGee’s 3 steals + blocks and 2 turnovers combined for 5 in TOs + steals + blocks, reflecting both his activity and the fact the ball was in his hands a fair bit.
  • Peterson added 2 steals with 0 turnovers, a tidy line in terms of ball security.
  • Wani Lodu Swaka Lo Buluk, Tyler Harvey, Mason Peatling and William Hickey all chipped in with defensive plays, each registering at least 1 steal and/or 1 block.

The Hawks kept their own turnover numbers relatively manageable, but Tasmania’s ability to pair efficient offence with enough disruption at key moments meant the hosts could never quite bridge the gap created in that dominant second quarter.

For punters, the takeaway is clear: Tasmania’s core rotation offers multiple consistent stat contributors, particularly in PRA and PR combinations, while Illawarra’s pillars in Bannan and Johnson are heavily involved in scoring and rebounding markets.

Conclusion: Big Totals, Big Lines – and Why the Numbers Matter for Bettors

Across the two NBL fixtures, the story of the day was offence. Cairns piled on 118 points against South East Melbourne, powered by a balanced scoring effort and a dominant 69–39 second half. Multiple Taipans – including Angus Glover, Wes Iwundu, Ian Clark and Owen Foxwell – delivered strong returns in points, threes and PRA metrics, while Phoenix’s Jack McVeigh and Andrew Andrews still turned in big individual lines despite the loss.

In Wollongong, the JackJumpers’ 101–91 win over the Hawks featured big-man dominance from JaVale McGee and versatile backcourt production from Q.J. Peterson, with both comfortably hitting strong PR and PRA numbers. Illawarra’s Josh Bannan and David Johnson answered with heavy scoring and rebounding loads of their own, even if they couldn’t quite drag the Hawks over the line.

For anyone betting on the NBL, days like this highlight just how important it is to dig into the numbers – who consistently fills multiple categories, which teams ramp up in the second half, and where turnover battles are being won and lost. Those details can be the difference between getting value on a line or missing out.

Before you lock in your next NBL bet, make sure you’re getting the best possible price across the market. Use our odds comparison tool to line up prices from multiple bookies, spot the best value on totals, player props and head-to-heads, and turn these insights from the box score into smarter, more informed wagering decisions.