Basketball World Cup news: Australia defeats Japan 109-89 to advance past group stage

Australia is through to the second round of the FIBA World Cup, on the back of brilliant performances from Josh Giddey and Xavier Cooks — a familiar foe awaits.

Xavier Cooks has been a dominant force for Japan. Picture: AFP

The Boomers have kept their World Cup dream alive with a comfortable, if unconvincing 109-89 win over host nation Japan, but a bigger test awaits.

Next stop, a date with Slovenia and its NBA superstar Luka Doncic in a must-win replay of the bronze medal game from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

The Boomers triumphed in that third-place game to claim Australia’s first men’s medal at a major tournament, ending six decades of pain.

Two years on, Doncic and his Slovenian teammates will be out for revenge.

Australia will head into the clash on Friday with a spring in its step after a confidence-boosting win over the hosts in Okinawa.

The Boomers were strong favourites, but they had to overcome a raucous home crowd that created a hotbed of national pride.

Xavier Cooks has propelled the Aussies. Picture: AFP

World Cup debutants Josh Giddey, Xavier Cooks and Josh Green led the charge for Australia with brilliant displays of FIBA basketball.

Giddey had 14 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds at halftime before finishing with 26 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.

Cooks was magnificent in the first half, dropping 14 points and adding four rebounds in just 11 minutes on the floor.

The former Sydney King and NBL MVP didn’t drop the intensity in the second half to record a dominant World Cup double-double — 24 points, 16 rebounds and one block.

Green, who started, had 15 points to round out a memorable night.

Australia also ramped up its trademark dogged defence – perfect preparation for the almighty challenge of containing the brilliance of Doncic.

The Boomers have a target on their backs after winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, but veteran leader Patty Mills has welcomed the extra pressure.

Australia also have to deal with added weight of every game from here being a must-win to progress further in the tournament.

“This is the World Cup - nothing is going to be handed to us on a silver plate,” Mills said.

“Everyone’s going to give us their best shot, we understand this is going to be hard. That pressure, we welcome it.”

Patty Mills is under no illusion as to the challenge the Boomers face. Picture: AFP

The 20-point win also helped the Boomers move a step closer to an automatic qualification position for next year’s Paris Olympics.

If the Australians failed to beat Japan they ran the risk of opening the door for New Zealand to take the sole Oceania direct-qualification spot.

Both nations had 1-1 records heading into Tuesday.

Fortunately, the Australians defeated the Japanese to take their record to 2-1.

New Zealand faces Greece on Wednesday night and a loss would gift the Aussies their ticket to Paris.

Josh Green gave the Boomers a lift in a new starting role. Picture: Getty Images

GREEN EXCELS IN STARTING FIVE

The Boomers opted to change the starting line-up for the Japan clash.

Dallas Mavericks NBA star Josh Green moved into the first five to replace Matisse Thybulle.

Green had been battling a left ankle injury, but he has recovered and makes perfect sense as a starter given his defensive presence and shooting.

He also starred while playing in the starting five during Australia’s warm-up win over France in Tokyo.

The move to elevate Green paid immediate reward when he produced a four-point play.

The athletic Mavs star looked dangerous every time he touched the ball while his aggression and activity on the defensive end is a game changer.

Big man Duop Reath also excelled, with two blocks and a strong post move for a basket.

Buoyed by a boisterous home crowd, though, Japan went toe-to-toe with the Boomers in the opening exchanges.

The Japanese got within three in the first quarter thanks to seven points from big man Joshua Hawkinson.

This was as close as Japan got, with the Boomers surging to a 23-point second-quarter lead on the back of a 22-9 run.

Australia maintained the rage in the third quarter to open up a 27-point lead. Japan refused to go away, reducing the lead to 15 in the final frame, but the Boomers steadied to keep their World Cup campaign alive.

Josh Giddey destroyed the smaller Japanese guards. Picture: Getty Images

RECAP THE GAME AS IT HAPPENED LIVE

Q4, 2.26: AUS 104-86 JPN

Giddey just walked into a three off the dribble from DEEP range and found nothing but net to put it to bed. But Japan has made it much harder than the scoreline suggests. Giddey’s got a big double-double with 25 points and 11 assists, while Cooks has 24 and 13 rebounds — 10 of those on the offensive glass. The Aussies are home here. It’s just a matter of how much.

3QT: AUS 87-70 JPN

The Boomers allowed Japan to drop 35 points on them in the third and, while they still lead by 17, it’s a worry. They did score 30 of their own, though — basically trading shots with their opponents.

Q3, 3.03: AUS 83-59 JPN

Xavier Cooks continues to dominate and he’s thrown down a massive slam on the break on his way to a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, but it’s been a bit of a stalemate for both teams as the Boomers have been a little lacking defensively.

There has been some ordinary refereeing in the tournament so far, but probably none as bad as the missed missed double dribble call on former Melbourne United guard Yudai Baba. The lightning quick guard picked the ball up, then dribbled again, before finding Josh Hawkinson running to the hoops, whose floater produced two points for Japan. The non-call left Joe Ingles shaking his head. Hawkinson is cooking the Aussies with a game-high 20 points and he's made eight of his 11 shots. Giddey’s got 16, Green 15.

HT: AUS 57-35 JPN

I predicted the Aussies would win by 20-plus and they’re out by 22 at halftime. This is some of the best team basketball we’ve seen them play. The 32 points was the most they’ve scored in a quarter in the tournament and 19 of their 24 made field goals were assisted. I liked the idea of Xavier Cooks starting after the loss to Germany, but was also mindful that could bastardise the bench mob that has been so successful Goorj resisted the urge to insert the Washington Wizard into the starting lineup and it’s paid off in spades. He has not stopped and it’s translated into 14 points, six rebounds — four of those offensive — and he’s taken 11 shots, more than any other player on the court, making seven of them. As good as Cooks has been, Josh Giddey has gone to another level with 14 points and seven assists and he’s a +20. Josh Green’s got 10 at the offensive end and three steals to spark the Boomers, while Nick Kay has 9.

Josh Giddey has been all class for the Boomers. Picture: AFP

The deep shooting has been horrible from both teams. The Boomers are 3-14 and Japan is 4-17

Con: Kay has struggled to contain Yuta Watanabe — Jack White hasn’t played a minute, Goorj might consider giving the Boomers’ game one energiser bunny an opportunity to take on the Japan star in the second half. Watanabe has 10 and fellow big Josh Hawkinson has 11 to pace Japan.

FROM MATT LOGUE IN OKINAWA:

Giddey, Cooks and Green put on a show for the Boomers in the first half — If this trio is the future of Australian basketball, give me more.

Q2, 5.06: AUS 39-21 JPN

All Boomers against the home team. The crowd has ben quietened as Australia has jumped out to an 18-point lead on the back of a 14-6 run. Josh Green is the first player in double digits with 10. He’s provided instant offence and has been a nightmare on defence. Josh Giddey has been brilliant. He has nine points and seven assists and his work out of inbounds plays has been mindblowing — he’s among the best at it in the NBA, so it’s no surprise.

Xavier Cooks soars for a huge jam. Picture: AFP

X with authority. Picture: AFP

QT: AUS 25-17 JPN

The Boomers are sharing and caring with nine of their 11 field goals assisted. Josh Giddey and Joe Ingles have three dimes each, Giddey and Exum getting their feet in the paint and creating havoc against Japan’s smaller guards. Xavier Cooks continues to be a problem for bigger opponents, running Josh Hawkinson ragged. Giddey has 7, Cooks 6 and new starter Josh Green 6.

Q1, 5.24: AUS 16-9 JPN

BOOMERS MAKE CHANGE TO STARTING FIVE

The Boomers have finally changed their starting line-up. Dallas NBA star Josh Green moves into the first five to replace Matisse Thybulle — and he’s already got six points. Green had been battling a left ankle, but he h`mas recovered, and makes sense as a starter given his defensive presence and shooting. Green starred while playing in the starting five during Australia’s warm-up win over France in Tokyo.

Josh Green has moved into the Boomers’ starting five. Picture: Getty Images

Matisse Thybulle started the first two Boomers’ World Cup games, but he has moved to the bench in favour of Green. Picture: Getty Images

‘SAD NEWS’: PATTY TO ‘RETALIATE’ AGAINST JAPAN — OVER A SMOOTHIE

Veteran leader Patty Mills says the Boomers are bracing for a tough contest in tonight’s do-or-die World Cup clash against co-host nation Japan.

The Australians will walk into a hotbed of national pride when they take on the Japanese in front of a passionate home crowd.

The Boomers go in as overwhelming favourites to progress to the second round, but Mills knows the Japanese will come out firing.

“It’s the World Cup — nothing’s going to get handed to us on a silver plate,” Mills said.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to play a host country; one that has a lot of firepower on the court and in the stands.

“We are going to have to bring our A-game — high energy, high powered, a lot of threes and play with a lot of passion.

“For us to get the job done on the defensive end, control the speed of the game – that is where we look to hang our hat.

“Then it’s about allowing that to fuel our offence.”

Patty Mills is expecting a huge test against Japan. Picture: AFP

Mills also took a cheeky swipe at his Brooklyn Nets teammate Yuta Watanabe – who is one of Japan’s key stars.

“Yuta spilled a smoothie on my brand new pair of shoes,” he said.

“We’re next to each other’s lockers and he spilled his smoothie, so I’ve got one to pay him back on.”

It led to some amusing interpretations among Japanese fans on Twitter.

【悲報】オーストラリアの絶対的エース、精神的支柱のパティミルズ。ネッツでチームメイトだった渡邊雄太にスムージーをこぼされたため、今日の試合で報復すると宣言。 pic.twitter.com/Eh31yvs18H

— はん (@han27890049) August 29, 2023

“[Sad news] Australia’s absolute ace, Patty Mills of the spiritual pillar. Yuta Watanabe, who was a teammate at the Nets, spilled a smoothie, so he declared that he would retaliate in today’s game,” one fan wrote, according to Google Translate.

Mills said the Boomers have learnt valuable lessons from their three-point loss to Germany on Sunday.

He pinpointed the side’s slow starts as a main area of concern.

It’s a pattern that has followed the Boomers since their World Cup warm-up games in Melbourne, but Mills is determined to stop the sluggish trend.

“Obviously, that (the slow starts) is something we’ve looked at and we’re trying to improve on,” he said.

“It’s seeing what we can do to make sure that we don’t get off to slow starts.

“But again, hanging our hat on the defensive end and being able to deliver the first punch is what we need to look at doing.

“Then all the details come in after that, but the start tonight (against Japan) is going to be particularly important, especially in front of a home crowd in Japan.”

Japan’s Yuta Watanabe looms as Australia’s biggest threat. Picture: AFP

Mills was extremely wary of Watanabe’s potent shooting.

“We obviously know how much of an elite shooter that he is – and how streaky – he can make one and then rattle off nine or 10 in a row no matter how he has been shooting in the past,” he said.

“So, a lot of respect for him and the other shooters and players on their team, but it’s appropriate fear.

“The best thing that they (Japan) have is the home crowd advantage and we need to be able to control that the best way we can.”

The Boomers play Japan at Okinawa Arena from 9.10pm (AEST) and must win to progress to the second group phase of the World Cup.

BOOMERS’ HOPES ROCKED AS JAPAN PLOTS BOILOVER

Host nation Japan rates the Boomers as one of the “world’s best” teams, but they’re preparing to withstand a “punch” in the face as they look to cause one of the biggest boilovers in FIBA basketball history.

Pressure on the Boomers to beat Japan on Tuesday night has ramped up, with an automatic qualification position for next year’s Paris Olympics on the line.

This would be problematic as there are only five spots remaining for the Olympics - and most NBA players wouldn’t be available.

New Zealand’s 95-87 overtime victory against Jordan on Monday helped the Kiwis join the Australians with a 1-1 record at the World Cup.

The highest finisher at this year’s Cup between Australia and New Zealand receives an automatic qualification for the 2024 Paris Games.

It means the Boomers must now defeat Japan on Tuesday from 9.10pm (AEST) - and hope New Zealand loses its final group game against Greece on Wednesday.

If Australia fails to beat Japan, it will give New Zealand a chance to receive the automatic qualification for the Olympics if they can defeat the Greeks.

Japan’s fans are certain to create a raucous atmosphere for the crucial match against the Boomers. Picture: Getty

The Boomers could still reach Paris, but they’d have to play in a qualifying tournament.

Australia has a 5-1 record against Japan, admittedly in Asia Cup, but the co-host nation is coming off a historic and emotionally charged come-from-behind win over Finland.

The 10-point triumph was their first win over a European team at a World Cup, which sent the almost 8,000-strong crowd into raptures.

It means the Boomers will walk into a hotbed of national pride on Tuesday when they take on Japan at a home World Cup.

Japanese coach Tom Hovasse respects Australia enormously, but he’ll be telling his charges not to take a backwards step against the Boomers.

“If we can settle in and play our game and kind of create the pace that we want, I like our chances,” Hovasse said about Japan’s chances taking on an Australian side featuring nine NBA players.

“We’re here to win, we’re not here to participate.

“We’ve gotta take the punch and counter, and hopefully we can show ‘em what we got.

“They’re one of the best teams in the world. So, we can’t allow them to push us around.

“They’re bigger, they’re stronger, we have to battle on the rebounds, we have to keep it close on the rebounds. And, we have to shoot, probably better.”

Hovasse is refusing to take Australia lightly, knowing they’ll hit back hard after Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to Germany.

“Coach Goorjian has them playing very well and they are amazing,” he said.

“They lost a tough one (on Sunday), so they’re going to be hungry, they’re going to come with all they have.”

Veteran Boomers forward Joe Ingles knows the Japanese will come out firing in front of a passionate home crowd.

“Japan are a good team – they press a lot and play a lot of zone,” Ingles said.

“We are playing in Japan, so they’ve got a home crowd there.

“We’ll watch a bit of film and get ready for that.

“It’s obviously frustrating and disappointing, but it’s over with now and we’ll see where we can get better at.”

Joe Ingles knows Australia will have to silence the vocal home crowd. Picture: Getty

TIGHTROPE AND CHANGES TO LINE-UP?

Australia lost to Germany by just three points, but their World Cup campaign hangs in the balance to reach the quarter-finals.

The Boomers must beat Japan on Tuesday from 9.10pm (AEST) to progress.

A date with Luka Doncic’s Slovenia and Georgia awaits in second group phase, but Australia needs to win both those games to reach the quarter-finals.

It’s looking like the Boomers would face either the winner of Group G (Spain) or the winner of Group H (Canada) in the quarter-finals.

Australia is more than capable of reviving their Cup campaign with victories over Japan, Slovenia and Georgia, but they need to improve a host of key areas.

The slow starts, which have plagued the Boomers since the World Cup warm-up games in Melbourne, is a clear problem.

Patty Mills has been the Boomers’ go-to scorer this tournament. Picture: AFP

It begs the question: Does coach Goorjian need to tweak his starting five?

The legendary mentor has started Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Nick Kay and Duop Reath in the first two games against Finland and Germany.

There are calls for Goorjian to change this starting lineup, however it appears unlikely heading into Tuesday’s game against Japan.

The Australians have a clear size advantage, which could allow out of touch players like Kay and Reath to build much needed confidence.

Dallas guard Josh Green could be an option to replace Thybulle moving forward, but the Boomers are also juggling Green’s minutes after he suffered an ankle injury during a warm-up win over France.

The Mavericks signing excelled starting against the French before he went down injured.

COOKS STARTING?

The Boomers are at their most efficient when former Sydney Kings star Xavier Cooks is on the floor – and he could be a starting option as the tournament progresses.

Cooks was brilliant again coming off the bench in Sunday’s loss to Germany.

The Washington Wizard had nine points and five rebounds while he was a beast on the defensive end.

Could Xavier Cooks be given extra minutes as the Boomers attempt to rebuild their campaign? Picture: AFP

Goorjian praised Cooks’ display post-game, saying he is vital to Australia’s chances, especially with starting centre Jock Landale ruled out of the Cup with an ankle injury.

“That’s not having Jock, so he (Xavier) is now the backup five,” Goorjian said.

“If you look at statistically, offensively and defensively and our plus and minus, we’ve been our best with him on the floor.

“Again, we played him a lot (against Germany) and he kept us in the game, and he was crucial for us. He has been tremendous.

“In the small ball line up and the switching, we keep moving forward with that group.

“The subbing with that group, a lot of the times like Josh Green is because he hasn’t played a lot.

“It’s the same thing with Xavier. A lot of the time we have to get him out of there because he is exhausted, but Xavier is crucial for us if we are going to progress out of this group.”

Originally published as Basketball World Cup news: Australia defeats Japan 109-89 to advance past group stage