36ers' new look for JackJumpers challenge

Adelaide 36ers start a three-game stint on the road on Thursday night in Hobart against Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Arena.

Coming off a heartbreaking 85-83 loss to New Zealand at a sold out Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon, the 36ers, who will be wearing their 1998-inspired heritage jersey, will look to get back into the winners’ circle against a Tasmanian side vying for the same playoff spot.

Both sides go into the game with an 11-10 win-loss record with only seven games left in the NBL23 season and 36ers head coach CJ Bruton knows the importance of success on the Apple Isle.

“Every game right now is important for us, it’s a one game at a time mentality, that’s what we have to focus on,” Bruton said.

Adelaide defeated the JackJumpers 93-82 on December 19 at home, but star import forward Robert Franks knows what his side should expect on Thursday night.

"I think everybody in the locker room and coaches feel like we can play with anybody, we need to have the right mindset, right mentality and right focuses going into games,” Franks said.

"We're focusing on one game at a time and winning those."

Tasmania will come into the contest fresh off of their 92-89 victory against Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong on Tuesday night and will want to turn their home court record around.

While happy to get the win on the road, JackJumpers coach Scott Roth knows his team needs to play better moving forward.

"You win on the road and it might not have been pretty, and there's a lot of areas that we're just not consistent in right now," Roth said.

"We had some leads and just gave them right back, we just have to do better.

“We have monumental games every time we play or so it seems like at the moment.

“Every game means something and it's exciting to be involved with that."

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS vs ADELAIDE 36ERS
MyState Bank Arena, Thursday 7pm
LIKELY STARTERS
JackJumpers: Magette, Weeks, Doyle, Kelly, Magnay
36ers: McCarron, Drmic, Cleveland, Franks, Sotto
LAST TIME
ADELAIDE 36ERS 93 (Cleveland 20, Drmic 16, Dech 12) def TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 82 (Doyle 18, Magette 13, White 12) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre. 
BOX SCORE