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The Boomers’ basketball World Cup marketing campaign is again on observe, 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 beneath.
Reigning NBL MVP Cooks ensured that was by no means probably, dominating across the rim with 24 factors and 14 rebounds off the bench because the Boomers notched their highest-ever World Cup whole.
“You win a medal (on the Tokyo Olympics), first medal in historical past of this area and then you definately lose one recreation by a basket (to Germany) and also you are available in to tonight and it is such as you’re teaching and taking part in on your life,” coach Brian Goorjian mirrored after the high-stakes encounter.
They will have to 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 succeed in the quarter-finals.
If New Zealand lose to Greece on Wednesday it should additionally imply Australia secures qualification for subsequent 12 months’s Olympics because the highest-finishing Oceania workforce.
Elevated to the beginning line-up as an alternative of Matisse Thybulle, Josh Inexperienced (15 factors, 4 steals) proved a strong 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 whole.
After scoring the facet’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 complete home lifted.
Naturalised American Josh Hawkinson (33 factors, seven rebounds) saved attacking for Japan and located help in Mills’ former Brooklyn NBA teammate Yuta Watanabe (24 factors).
However 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 obtained decrease than 13 factors down the stretch.
“For our success, the small ball, the switching, the defence; the blueprint was the primary half,” Goorjian mentioned.
“We’re going by way of evolution; some guys get spit out, some get moved in.
“And three massive items tonight (Giddey, Cooks, Inexperienced) … make this factor actually thrilling for tonight and the longer term.”
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