The 2024 NBL Championship Series is set, with the Tasmania JackJumpers once again featuring as they look to win their first-ever title against Melbourne United.

Read on for a full wrap of how both teams got there, with Tasmania making a statement against Perth while United held off a plucky Illawarra outfit.

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EMOTIONS HIGH FOR ROTH AS JACKJUMPERS CONTINUE CHARGE

The Tasmania JackJumpers will contest their second NBL championship series despite only having been in the competition for three seasons.

The JackJumpers became the only team across both semi-final series to win on the road, when they beat the Wildcats 100-84 at RAC Arena on Wednesday night.

Perth looked lively in the first half, but could only manage a three-point lead, which came midway through the second quarter.

Then Scott Roth’s boys took control.

Led by a season-high 27 points from Jack McVeigh, the JackJumpers outscored Perth 48-41 after half-time and were always in control.

“The island defended. Love those people back in Tasmania, this team loves you, we’re coming back home,” an emotional Roth told John Casey post-game.

“… It’s all about defending the island and taking care of this state.”

Nothing to lose

So, Tasmania will play Melbourne United in a five-game series, after United won Game 3 of their semi-final series against Illawarra Hawks earlier on Wednesday.

Game 1 is on Sunday at John Cain Arena.

In the past 10 years, eight championships have been won by teams entering the playoffs from one of top-two positions on the table.

The Sydney Kings (2021-22) and the Perth Wildcats (2016-17) both won titles from third spot in that time, where the JackJumpers were ranked after qualifying.

Tassie will start underdog, but that won’t bother them.

Some Milton magic

It was Milton Doyle who broke the game open in the second term, dropping 11 points for the quarter to give the visitors a nine-point lead at half-time.

Bryce Cotton had just started the term on fire, with the first five points, as the Cats went on a nine-point run either side of the quarter-time break.

The four-times MVP scored 10 points in the second term.

But when Doyle dropped the first two points of the second half, the JackJumpers lead went to 11 points. It didn’t get back below nine.

Doyle finished with 24 points and nine assists.

Talls just too big

Import Marcus Lee returning to the JackJumpers was just one too many tall for the Wildcats to handle.

Lee missed his side’s home victory in Game 2, suspended for unduly rough play on Jordan Usher, deemed to be intentional, medium impact and high contact.

The rebound count was 40-31 Tasmania’s way. The JackJumpers pulled in 13 offensive boards.

They were able to add 58 points from inside the paint as a result.

Will Magnay continued his terrific late-season form, with nine boards and 18 points.

Keanu Pinder had his hands full. Having scored 25 points in Game 1 of the semi-final, his frustrations from Game 2 continued to Wednesday. He didn’t score at all.

Perth scoring woes

Remember when the Wildcats went on a seven-game run mid-season, scoring triple figure totals in every game?

They reached 100 in 10 of 14 games.

But over their finals campaign, scoring hasn’t been that easy.

Cotton again led the way on Wednesday night, scoring 21 points. The four-times NBL MVP dropped all three attempts from three-point territory.

But after him, it was slim pickings. Hyrum Harris contributed 13 points, but no one else made it to double figures.

‘UNBELIEVABLE’ DELLY HELPS UNITED TO VICTORY

The pressure on Melbourne United to close out a semi final series it was heavily favoured in was immense.

A basketball nation jumped on board the Illawarra Hawks bandwagon and were waiting to point and laugh at a top-ranked United if they were to slip up.

But United showed its championship credentials, standing up when it counted most in a do-or-die game and declaring the Hawks fairytale would end in their house.

Dean Vickerman’s team advanced to their first NBL championship series since 2020-21 with another tight 100-94 win in game 3 at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.

United exorcised the demons of 2021-22 when a fourth-ranked Tasmania JackJumpers shocked top-seeded United to take game three of their semi final series.

It was all hands on deck for United with all five starters, led by 22 points from point guard Shea Ili, and sixth man Ian Clark scoring in double digits.

United’s offence was sharp early and a little less predictable than their go-to-Jo Lual-Acuil Jr start in game 2.

The Hawks were caught on the hop as United opened up what would prove to be an unassailable 21-6 lead.

Hawks coach Justin Tatum was not liking what he saw and called a time out just three minutes in.

It lit a fire in Hawks forward Wani Swaka Lo Buluk who unceremoniously barged through hometown favourite Chris Goulding.

Three triples from Hawks guard Justin Robinson trimmed a 15-point deficit to just six at quarter time.

United came out with a stronger defensive focus in the second.

Veteran Matthew Dellavedova typified that when he dove head first over the advertising boards in a bid to try and save a ball.

The Hawks stuck around with Robinson, who had 19 points and seven assists, a key reason, the sixth man playing his best game of the series.

Robinson was the one Hawk that was able to penetrate with regularity.

Hawks centre Sam Froling was ever-present inside the paint with 23 points.

When Robinson connected on an alley-oop with Froling, United’s lead was cut to three, but two late Shea Ili’s threes had United up 54-47 at half time.

United opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to have their biggest lead of the night at 16.

Smooth-as-silk United forward Luke Travers, who finished with a double double 15 points and 11 rebounds, was getting to the hoop at will and providing efficient scoring.

A four-point play to Hyunjung Lee late in the third boosted the Hawks spirits.

The Hawks were not going to simply roll over, but they just couldn’t bridge a gap that hovered around 10, particularly with their slipshod 63% free throw shooting (24/38).

Target on his back

If United was going to get beaten, they didn’t want to get beaten by Gary Clark.

Clark, the game 2 star for the Hawks, was met with a double team nearly every time he took possession in the first half.

The former NBA player was bereft of ideas for most of the night and finished with just 14 points, a significant win for United.

Ty-ed down

Hawks guard Tyler Harvey endured a hellish night.

The 30-year-old had a killer mentality in game 2, but it eluded him on this occasion.

When the star scorer went to the bench in the third quarter with four fouls, he only had a single point to his name and finished with just nine.