Jackies cop body blow with star guard gone for season

A crucial piece of the JackJumpers squad has been ruled out for the season, in an untimely blow before they look to halt a two-game losing streak against Adelaide on Friday night.

Jackies guard Sean Macdonald has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an injury in the loss to Illawarra. (Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)

The JackJumpers’ NBL title defence has copped another major body blow with in-form guard Sean Macdonald ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

Macdonald suffered a foot injury in Tuesday’s defeat to Illawarra, and has been replaced in the squad by Nick Stoddart.

It’s another enormous setback for the Jackies, with star centre Will Magnay racing the clock to be fit for finals with a fractured toe that’s kept him sidelined the past few games.

The loss of Macdonald is highlighted by the team’s return to form after he missed the first few games of the campaign with a fractured ankle sustained in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

Since his return from that initial setback, the JackJumpers won seven straight games before they dropped their past two against South-East Melbourne and the ladder-leading Hawks.

Their record without him this season is four wins and eight losses.

It means the Jackies are now sixth with an 11-10 record, just one win ahead of Brisbane (10-11) before what could prove season-defining home clashes against Adelaide on Friday night and Perth on Sunday afternoon.

Jordon Crawford has moved back to the bench to make way for Macdonald in the starting line-up since his return.

But Crawford looks set to reignite his back court partnership with fellow American import Milton Doyle for the rest of the season.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth confirmed Magnay could miss at least the rest of the regular season.

In an injury update on Thursday, the JackJumpers said the star big man is “showing good signs of healing and will progress his loading before further review.”

“He’s out for the (regular) season obviously and if we’re lucky enough to continue playing, maybe he can come back, maybe he can’t,” Roth said in the post-game press conference on Tuesday.

If the JackJumpers are to maintain their place in the top-six without their key duo, they’ll need to overturn recent form.

Including Friday night’s game against the 36ers, Roth’s side will face Perth, New Zealand, Sydney, South East Melbourne, Illawarra, Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans to close out the season.

The defending champions have not beaten the Hawks, Phoenix or Kings this year.

In games against the Taipans, United, 36rs and Wildcats they have a 5-4 record.

Originally published as Jackies cop body blow with star guard gone for season