Good to get that one out of the way.
We're on top of the group… for now.
Next stop: Senegal
See you on Tuesday from 5pm.
Have a read of Matty Logue's report above.
Boomers tip off FIBA World Cup with a bang, smashing Canada
In the end, it was a rout, but the Boomers needed every bit of Matthew Dellavedova's stunning performance to bounce a plucky Canada in their FIBA World Cup opener. FOLLOW LIVE
You can’t keep a champion down for too long.
That was the storyline at the Dongguan Basketball Centre on Sunday night as Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova rediscovered his shooting mojo to help the Boomers start their World Cup campaign in style with a hard fought 108-92 victory over Canada.
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In their first major tournament match since the heartbreak of finishing fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Boomers produced a purposeful team performance to surge past the Canadians.
The Australians had six players scoring in double figures but Dellavedova was the star, finishing with 24 points – including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.
The Cleveland Cavaliers star struggled to produce his well-known shooting range during Australia’s World Cup warm-up matches.
Dellavedova was quiet in some games but he found his form against the Canadians.
Matthew Dellavedova caught fire in the Boomers' win over Canada!
— FOX Basketball (@FoxBasketball) September 1, 2019
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gulJrkJfpX
‘Delly’ has toiled tirelessly on his new shot release and it is starting to show.
“I feel really comfortable,” Dellavedova said pre-game.
“I’ve put a lot of work into it throughout the off-season and I feel like it has been really good for me.”
Dellavedova’s masterclass helped the Boomers improve their record against Canada to 3-6 since the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.
There was a strong contingent of Aussie supporters in the crowd, including one parochial group with bright yellow t-shirts and a giant-sized inflatable boxing kangaroo.
The Boomers fed off this passionate support overcome a resilient Canada side, who refuse to go away.
The Australians looked comfortable leading by 12 points at halftime before the Canadians came to life with a scintillating scoring run.
Canada went on a 16-0 run to start the third quarter before the Boomers found their feet in the fourth to claim a crucial win.
Melbourne United star Chris Goulding, who scored 16 points off the bench, was happy with the win but insisted the Boomers are far from the polished product, especially in defence.
"It was good to start the tournament with a win," Goulding said.
"Our first half we showed that we can do some really good stuff but we also showed that we weren't were we need to be defensively.
"Canada are a great team and they showed that by pulling back a little bit towards the end of the half.
"We weren't ready to go at the start of the third and when you are playing quality opposition they can put points on the board pretty quickly.
"We got slapped in the face a little bit but we realised the situation we were in, picked it up a little bit and managed to get a solid win."
Australia now face Senegal in their second Group H clash on Tuesday from 5.30pm (AEST).
The Boomers require at least one more win to progress to the second round.
Australia has never been further than the World Cup quarter-finals in the nation’s history.
In a further boost to Australia’s chances of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, New Zealand lost their opening game to Brazil 102-94.
The Boomers must finish above the Tall Blacks to book their seat to Tokyo.
BOGUT THRIVES DESPITE BOOS
Andrew Bogut received a raucous boo from Chinese crowd every time he touched the ball but he impressed in his first game since spraining his right ankle against Germany this week.
Bogut scored on first touch before finishing with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
The Sydney Kings big man must consistently produce in the paint for Australia to progress to the second stage.
LANDALE CONTINUES RISE
Rising big man Jock Landale deserves huge praise following a standout display.
Landale did a strong job starting the match while he had 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Ingles praised the Geelong Grammar School product for his impressive contribution on the international stage to date.
“He is a great kid,” Ingles said.
“He works his arse off and he has showed what he can do and how effective he can be.”
INGLES IS BACK
Joe Ingles has looked passive throughout Australia’s World Cup warm-up games but he found his range and voice against Canada.
Ingles dropped a three-pointer with his first shot before finishing with 13 points in an impressive display.
The Utah Jazz star was also a menace in defence with his hustle and vocal presence.
Melbourne United star Chris Goulding also added 16 vital points.
Goulding will be a real key for the Boomers off the bench throughout this World Cup campaign.
Updates
NICE START
FT: AUS 108 DEFEAT CANADA 92
Well, they gave us a scare, but a superb final quarter has given the Boomers the perfect start to their FIBA World Cup campaign.
It was 32-15 in the final term as the Boomers ran away with it.
Our man on the ground Matt Logue will be filing his report soon.
STATS PACK
Dellavedova 24 points, 6/10 3PM, 5 assists
Goulding 16 points, 6/7 FGM
Patty Mills 15 points, 6 assists
Joe Ingles 13 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Andrew Bogut 12 points, 6/7 FGM, 9 rebounds
Aron Baynes 10 points
Pendles is happy with it.
Well done Boomers, showed great grit when challenged. World Cup is awesome #BoomersCanada
— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) September 1, 2019
Call that third quarter a lapse.
The Aussies went into the last down 1.
Seven minutes later and they're up 13.
Five Aussies are in double digits, led by Delly with 21.
Joe Ingles is having a blinder.
He's got nine dimes and five boards to go with his 13 points. Patty's got 13, Bogut's got 12 and Goulding's got 16 off the bench.
3 mins to go.
AUS 99 V CAN 83
Call that third quarter a lapse.
The Aussies went into the last down 1.
Seven minutes later and they're up 13.
Five Aussies are in double digits, led by Delly with 21.
Joe Ingles is having a blinder.
He's got nine dimes and five boards to go with his 13 points. Patty's got 13, Bogut's got 12 and Goulding's got 16 off the bench.
3 mins to go.
AUS 92 v CAN 79
Delly time.
That revamped jumpshot is working a treat for the veteran Cavalier.
He's hit five three pointers and is up to 21 points in 22 minutes as the game-high scorer.
This is the Boomers team we want to see.
Six minutes left.
BOOOOOM TIME
The Aussies go bang, bang, banf and the lead is seven.
Big Baynes with a MASSIVE statement jam and Nick Nurse calls time to go mental at his players – he's not happy with they way they have helped on defence.
Bench sparkplug Chris Goulding, who has 16 points in 17 minutes.
AUS 84 v CAN 77
BOOOOOM TIME
The Aussies go bang, bang, banf and the lead is seven.
Big Baynes with a MASSIVE statement jam and Nick Nurse calls time to go mental at his players – he's not happy with they way they have helped on defence.
Bench sparkplug Chris Goulding, who has 16 points in 17 minutes.
3QT: AUS 76 v CAN 77
The first four minutes of that third quarter were about as bad as the Boomers could play.
They couldn't get a stop and they couldn't make a bucket, allowing Canada to turn a 12-point deficit into a four-point lead.
What should have been a runaway win is now anything but.
They have righted the ship – sort of – but this could still go either way.
So important for the Boomers, with the might of Lithuania in the pool.
This could decide whether they go through.
Chris Goulding is red hot for the Aussies with 14 points in 15 minutes, while Delly is up to 15.
Is it Patty Mills time?
BOGUT INJURED?
Big man Andrew Bogut appeared to cop one on the nose and he's gone out to the locker-room…
Will let you know more as we hear.
'MAN THE F*** UP'
It's 65-59 to Canada and Andrew Bogut has issued a rallying cry to his troops in the timeout.
"Keep moving, don't stop moving," Bogut says.
"Man the f*** up."
Coach Andrej Lemanis is focussed on the defence – or lack thereof.
"We haven't had one stop this half."
The Boomers immediately got a stop out of the timeout.
Come on boys.
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