Dakota Mathias went to hospital for x-rays and Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth gave no status on him: "It's not even his nose. I think it's his cheek." Majok Deng is out with no timeline; Roth said Ben Gold will be used "heavily, especially while Majok Deng is out."
Biwali Bayles and Kody Stattmann were "basically on the street about 10 days ago," Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said, yet both played "hugely important minutes." Roth said each had picked up "labels" but has fit the club's standards.
Makur Maker is "still trying to get his feet wet, understand where he can get his shots at," Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum said, with staff working with him on the fly. Asked if nearing a third import changes plans, Tatum wouldn't commit: "we have multiple options."
Tyler Harvey lost minutes as opponents targeted him at both ends, Illawarra coach Justin Tatum said: "They were really hard hedging him and blitzing him... and then they was attacking him on the defensive end." Daniel Grida, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Kyle Adnam got his time.
Sam Froling sat for 7 minutes of the third quarter in Illawarra's 122-112 loss, and Hawks coach Justin Tatum said it was about riding the group on the floor: "Momentum, momentum. We was just working with the momentum... You don't need to mess something up."