JT controlled the game with disciplined defense, smart mismatch hunting, and relentless pressure in transition. The Jaguars dictated the terms on both ends, limiting the Oilers’ options while exploiting their vulnerabilities. The Oilers had to end the game with up to 40 seconds left on the clock. By A.A. Johnson | July 12, 2025, 2:57 AM
Clutch Offense
JT won, so there won’t be much debate about their offense—but it could have been different. As I had previously said in the earlier blog, offense would be the best defense against the Oilers, and that’s exactly what the Jaguars executed. The Jaguars slowed things down in the 3rd quarter to control the pace, but in doing so, they turned their elite offense into a make-or-miss game.
Luckily, most of their contested jumpers either fell, led to free throws, or resulted in offensive rebounds. But the stagnation in clutch moments is something to keep an eye on. The Oilers were forced into 27 turnovers, from which the Jaguars scooped 19 points. Duncan and Aaron understood the assignment and kept the Oilers on their toes the whole game to prevent them from getting any closer.
The Oilers Were Limited to 50 Points — Which Is What We Do Best: Defense
As I had said earlier, the best defense would be a better offense. We won the offensive game, and so we won the defensive battle—and ultimately, the game. No team has held the Oilers to such a low point total except the Jaguars.
After realizing Cuma was the only one firing for the Oilers, the strategy was to apply pressure on the ball before he could set up his fake-and-pull-up jump shot. This forced him into bad shots because the defense was choking him. The other player that seemed to try us was Allawi Senkubuge, who, to be honest, had some clutch plays. But the defense couldn’t let him get so comfortable making shots as he pleased. He still got a taste of the elite defense.
Aaron Eboyu Will Always Be the Man for the Job Against the Oilers
Even in the first-round game, Aaron was hot like a heater… From the bench, he contributed 11 points. Even though it wasn’t his three-point shooting night, his shots from within the paint were on point. This was no different from what happened last round. His energy was visibly present, and even on defense, he executed pressure, forced turnovers, and ran fast breaks. That same energy is what we need outside the matchup against the Oilers. The remaining games are just as important as this one.
The Oilers Were Bargaining So Hard at the Free Throw Line
I wouldn’t say the Jaguars weren’t being fouled—I’d rather say the Jaguars were much more physical, which led to multiple fouls that the Oilers just couldn’t utilize. This was a bit unusual to me. The Oilers went to the free-throw line 19 times compared to the Jaguars’ 7. Out of those 19 attempts, they only converted 9. This was one of the reasons they just couldn’t get things going.
Oilers’ Run in the Second Quarter
Despite trailing throughout the game, the Oilers made a push in the second quarter and nearly completed the comeback. While the Jaguars’ offense became a little stagnant, the Oilers increased their ball and player movement, throwing off the Jaguars’ defensive rhythm.
A key factor was improved spacing. At one point, the Oilers had only shooters on the floor, stretching the Jaguars’ defense in ways they hadn’t seen all game.
But this approach had a cost—defense. Joseph Cuma isn’t the rim protector he once was, and neither Rogers John Baptist nor Bolton Rujumba could cover all the defensive gaps. Once the Jaguars regained their offensive rhythm, the Oilers’ run came to an end.
The Crowd Was Ready to BEAT the Oilers, and So Were the Jaguars
Until today, I hadn’t realized just how loud the arena could get when it’s all-in on the Jaguars. The energy last night felt different. The crowd, the staff, the players—even the coaches—knew this was special.
On more than four occasions, the coaches and crowd booed the referees for calling ridiculous plays and ignoring others, almost all against the Jaguars. Everyone was part of the game, and the house was fully entertained by the team. I must say—the Jaguars Nation is something bound to grow even bigger.
The Jaguars completely understand what is at stake
Like we said, it’s only four games left and how they play the games will determine whether or not they get into the playoff tournament. The energy, the physicality, the urgency all showed on court. They must then continue to run over the next 3 games because it will totally make no sense to grab a win against the oilers and lose to the rest. Once we start hot we need to remain hot, get ourselves a good playoff seed and then restrategize when the time comes
The JT Jaguars Have Beaten Up the Oilers in Back-to-Back Fashion
Back in round one, the Oilers lost to the Jaguars by 10 points. Today, the gap widened to 15 points, and the Oilers were held to 50 points (the lowest they’ve been held to by any team this season). I don’t really think the two camps will meet in the playoffs this season—but maybe next season. For now, it’s a Jaguars sweep.