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JUST exactly how Tasmania lost this one to New Zealand is difficult to comprehend. The JackJumpers won the boards 43-35, they dished 20 assists to 15 and made 16-of-30 3-point attempts, Sean MacDonald having a career day sticking 7-of-9 dialling long distance.

The Jackies swarmed all over the Breakers like ants at a picnic, racing 14-4 clear as Milton Doyle, Jack McVeigh, Anthony Drmic and Marcus Lee flourished, prompting NZ coach Mody Maor to tongue-lash his team and import Anthony Lamb.

The NBA stud responded with six straight points and an assist which dragged the Breakers to 14-20, then stuck two free throws for 16-20.

Will McDowell-White's insertion also made a difference, Tasmania's cause hurt by the fact Doyle (12 points on 5-of-16 shooting) was still not at his best and Jordon Crawford (6 points on 2-of-13 shooting, two assists, four turnovers) had his first genuine stinker of the season.

WMW's assists revved Mangok Mathiang into action and Parker Jackson-Cartwright was a livewire all night, his 27 points at 56 per cent, with 3-of-5 triples, six boards, three assists and a steal.

Mantas Rubstavicius also stepped up, adding 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting, with 7-of-7 free throws.?

Tied 40-40 at halftime, Rubstavicius and Jackson-Cartwright pushed New Zealand ahead 46-40 before McVeigh's triple woke his team.

MacDonald, who was seeing the ring like a hoolah-hoop from range, nailed a couple of threes, Doyle, Drmic and Clint Steindl following suit but PJC, Lamb and cameos from several of the Breakers roster ensured they maintained the advantage.

MacDonald, who knocked down 7-of-9 threes was almost perfect, his only miss of the first half a rushed, contested attempt to close the second quarter and his one miss from range after the interval also a tough shot. His 23 points is a new career high.

Lee had his best game as a Jackie, his 14 points also coming on 7-of-9 shooting, with 13 rebounds.

But the twin absences of influential big man Will Magnay and recently injured Majok Deng (ankle) came home to roost in the last quarter when big plays were necessary and the men who produce them either were off their game or running on empty.

Considering Magnay and Deng were missing, Doyle and Crawford below their best, Tasmania did well to stay alive in this.

New Zealand weathered the storm and while Crawford's layup with a half-minute left brought the JJs to 93-94, his opposite number Jackson-Cartwright then nailed two free throws.

Crawford missed two 3-point attempts to tie it and Fabijan Krslovic missed inside before Izayah Le'afa created the final scoreline from the stripe.? ?

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS?98?(Jackson-Cartwright 27, Lamb 18, Mathiang, Rubstavicius 16; Mathiang 7 rebs; McDowell-White 6 assts) d?TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS?93?(MacDonald 23, McVeigh 17, Lee 14, Drmic 13, Doyle 12; Lee 13 rebs; McVeigh 5 assts) at Mystate Bank Arena. Crowd: 4,340