The Boomers’ basketball World Cup marketing campaign is again on monitor, Xavier Cooks setting the tone in a 109-89 defeat of Japan that sealed their path to the second spherical.
A shock loss to Germany on Sunday meant the world No.3 needed to beat the hosts in Okinawa to keep away from dropping into the classification for locations 17 and under.
Reigning NBL MVP Cooks ensured that was by no means possible, dominating across the rim with 24 factors and 14 rebounds off the bench because the Boomers notched their highest-ever World Cup complete.
“You win a medal (at the Tokyo Olympics), first medal in history of this region and then you lose one game by a basket (to Germany) and you come in to tonight and it’s like you’re coaching and playing for your life,” coach Brian Goorjian mirrored after the high-stakes encounter.
They’ll must beat famous person Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, who they beat for bronze in Tokyo, and almost definitely Georgia within the subsequent stage starting on Friday to achieve the quarter-finals.
If New Zealand lose to Greece on Wednesday it would additionally imply Australia secures qualification for subsequent 12 months’s Olympics because the highest-finishing Oceania crew.
Elevated to the beginning line-up as a substitute of Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green (15 factors, 4 steals) proved a robust spark plug to make sure no repeat of their gradual begins in opposition to Finland and Germany.
He had an early four-point play and was a menace in defence and transition, serving to Josh Giddey (26 factors, 11 assists) and Duop Reath rating freely.
Joe Ingles (5 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) added his silky contact because the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists assisted on 9 of their 11 first-quarter baskets and 31 in complete.
After scoring the aspect’s first 13 factors in opposition to Germany, Patty Mills (11 factors, 9 assists) did not open his account till the Boomers had 37.
They led 57-35 at half-time, outscoring Japan within the paint 40-10.
Japan doubled their rating with a 35-point third time period as the sport opened up and the total home lifted.
Naturalised American Josh Hawkinson (33 factors, seven rebounds) saved attacking for Japan and located assist in Mills’ former Brooklyn NBA teammate Yuta Watanabe (24 factors).
But 20-year-old Giddey got here once more with a pair of calming lay-ups and a three-pointer because the lead by no means acquired decrease than 13 factors down the stretch.
“For our success, the small ball, the switching, the defence; the blueprint was the first half,” Goorjian stated.
“We’re going through evolution; some guys get spit out, some get moved in.
“And three large items tonight (Giddey, Cooks, Green) … make this factor actually thrilling for tonight and the long run.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
