Tasmania held on for a 79–77 win over New Zealand at the Silverdome on Friday, 6 November, and the two-point margin barely captures how much the JackJumpers had to squeeze out of a depleted rotation. Sam Mennenga had a shot to win it at the buzzer for the Breakers, but his long two missed. Tasmania walked away with an 8–3 record and top spot, despite relying on just seven players.
The JackJumpers' best work came in the moments when New Zealand threatened to take control. Tasmania built an 11-point lead early in the second quarter, only for the Breakers to close the half with an 11–0 run and reach the interval level at 43–43. Rather than let that collapse dictate the second half, Tasmania scored the first seven points after the restart. The 64–55 three-quarter-time lead proved just enough insurance for a frantic finish.
Will Magnay supplied 16 points, three assists and three blocks, while Josh Bannan filled the gaps with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Dakota Mathias led Tasmania's scoring with 18 points and four three-pointers. Those contributions mattered because the JackJumpers weren't getting their usual depth: Bryce Hamilton, Majok Deng and David Johnson remained sidelined, and Ben Ayre didn't enter the game. With five starters playing more than 30 minutes, there was little room to hide a cold stretch or foul trouble.
New Zealand's fightback belonged largely to Mennenga, whose 29 points and 17 rebounds gave Tasmania a problem it never fully solved. Carlin Davison added nine assists and kept the offence moving, particularly with Parker Jackson-Cartwright not returning after half-time. The Breakers' comeback was substantial, but their final possession showed the thin line between a morale-boosting upset and another defeat: after Magnay missed two late free throws, Mennenga still had a chance to steal it.
The result was more than a narrow escape for Tasmania. Coach Scott Roth's short-handed group has kept finding ways to bank wins while important players are unavailable. That makes Bannan's all-round involvement and Magnay's defensive presence especially valuable: neither needs to dominate the scoring column to control crucial possessions. For fantasy coaches, the heavy minutes and concentrated production are worth watching, but any decision should be anchored to confirmed availability before the next tip-off.
Tasmania next travel to Perth to face the Wildcats on Thursday, 12 November, while New Zealand return home to host Brisbane on Friday, 13 November. The JackJumpers will take their ladder position into that trip knowing they can survive a poor finish; the more encouraging lesson is how quickly they regained control immediately after half-time. The Breakers, meanwhile, have evidence their offence can challenge the league leaders, but another close loss leaves them searching for a complete four-quarter performance.
The NBL's match report records the 79–77 result and individual statistics, while the league's account of Tasmania's depleted rotation details the seven-player workload and unavailable personnel.
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