By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A dominating showing for Australia secured a spot among the top 16 countries of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and sent hosting Japan to classification games.
Leading from start to finish, the Boomers went up by a margin of 27 points before settling for the 109-89 victory over Japan in Okinawa Arena Tuesday.
Coming off the bench in style, Xavier Cooks posted a 24-point, 16-rebound double-double, including ten offensive rebounds in Gameday 3 of Group E. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey also recorded a double-double with 26 points and 11 assists to go with five rebounds. Experienced forward Nick Kay threw in 13 more points. Patty Mills combined 11 points with nine assists.
Starting Josh Green instead of Matisse Thybulle, Australia immediately gained control of the do-or-die contest. By the second quarter, head coach Brian Goorjian was enjoying a double-digit advantage. The Dallas Mavericks swingman contributed 15 points behind 5/7 field goals, included two triples, and added four steals.
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“This was the original plan, but Josh missed most of our camp,” commented Goorjian on changing the starting five.
Australia joined top-seeded Germany in Group K going into the next round with a 2-1 record. Facing the top two seeds of Group F, Slovenia, Georgia, Cape Verde, or Venezuela, the two remaining games in Okinawa City are scheduled on Friday and Sunday, deciding two berths in the Quarterfinals.
Getting 33 points from Josh Hawkinson and 24 points from Yuta Watanabe did not help Japan contain the high-flying opponents. The team coached by Tom Hovasse dropped to 1-2, before extending hosting duties from Group E to Group O, competing for a spot between 17th and 32nd in the final rankings of FIBA’s flagship event.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL