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DESPITE the outrageous intervention of the NBL's amorphous "Games Review Panel" which ridiculously and quite embarrassingly outed Tasmania centre Marcus Lee from its semi final Game 2 against Perth, Milton Doyle was an absolute monster as the JackJumpers levelled the series at 1-1 tonight in Hobart. 

Once again proving that the "defend the island" mantra is not just some shtick invented by a clever marketing manager, Doyle led a 55-42 second half barrage which ensured this series would go back to Perth for a deciding Game 3 on Wednesday.  

But he didn't do it alone, Jack McVeigh in particular outstanding at both ends of the floor, Majok Deng turning his second game back from a severe ankle injury into an 18-point (on 6-of-7 shooting, 2-of-2 threes, 4-of-4 FTs) season-high tour de force, the JackJumpers rallying back from a 12-point deficit to win going away.

In the abhorrent suspension-forced absence of Lee, Will Magnay delivered 15 points at 75 per cent, with seven rebounds and his usual around-the-rim protection.

And then it was Sean MacDonald, joining Anthony Drmic and Doyle as Bryce Cotton minders, who not only helped contain the league MVP down the stretch, but was composed and efficient in delivering 12 points at 63 per cent, with a game-high five assists, a steal and a block.

His defence on a Jordan Usher fast break flight was exemplary as Tasmania made a statement of its own, loudly and vociferously supported throughout.

And it didn't look good early as Cotton (game-high 26 points at 50 per cent) went to work and Kristian Doolittle (20 points at 60 per cent) threatened to blow this one out.

McVeigh carried the Jackies, Doyle yet to cut loose and Jordon Crawford struggling offensively (1-of-9 in 22:26). A fine feed from MacDonald to Clint Steindl for a 3-pointer closed the first half with Tassie feeling better about itself, only trailing 47-52.

Cotton scored the first five points of the third quarter to bump Perth's lead back out to 10 but the avalanche was coming. Magnay, McVeigh and then Doyle - who would finish with 15 points in the period - relentless as Tasmania took a 74-73 lead into the final stanza.

From there and with the crowd roaring, it was going to take something special from the Wildcats, Keanu Pinder ineffective and fouling out and Perth coach John Rillie unable to find a solution.

Perhaps Perth's administration might between now and Wednesday? Maybe have McVeigh outed from Game 3 over a minor incident from a few games back? Hey. It worked once with getting Lee rubbed out, didn't it?

NBL Semi Final (2v3) Best-of-3

Game 2: TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 102 (Doyle 24, McVeigh 22, Deng 18, Magnay 15, MacDonald 12; Magnay 7 rebs; MacDonald 5 assts) d PERTH WILDCATS 94 (Cotton 26, Doolittle 20, H.Harris, T.Webster 9; Doolittle 9 rebs; H.Harris, Usher 4 assts) at Mystate Bank Arena. Crowd: 4,340

Game 1: PERTH WILDCATS 89 (Pinder 25, Cotton 15, Usher 11; Pinder, Cotton 7 rebs; Cotton 5 assts) d TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Crawford 19, McVeigh 17, Lee 16, Doyle 12; Magnay 8 rebs; Doyle 6 assts) at RAC Arena. Crowd: 10,624

Series tied 1-1