Germany and Australia kicked off their respective FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 campaigns in Okinawa, Japan on Friday with explosive starts.
Ranked 11th globally, Die Mannschaft, Germany, spoiled Japan’s opening night game with a commanding 81-63 victory. At the same time, the Boomers, who secured bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, dominated Finland with a resounding 98-72 win.
Moritz Wagner led the Germans with nearly a double-double, contributing 25 points and nine rebounds in preparation for their crucial Group E clash against Australia on Sunday.
Germany seized control of the game early, commencing a 15-3 run at the 7-minute mark of the first quarter, resulting in a 21-8 lead with 1:54 left in the frame.
Denis Schröder extended their lead with a three-pointer late in the first half, establishing a 21-point advantage at 45-24, effectively thwarting the comeback hopes of the 36th-ranked Akatsuki team.
Germany dominated the rebounding battle, securing 36 boards, while the Akatsuki Five managed only 28. Additionally, bench contributions played a significant role, with the German bench delivering 32 points compared to Japan’s 19 from role players.
Toronto Raptors’ Schröder notched 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists for Germany. Indiana Pacers’ big man Daniel Theis and Orlando Magic’s wingman Franz Wagner added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
On the other hand, Atlanta Hawks’ Patty Mills showcased his prowess, amassing 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting and adding eight rebounds to lead the Boomers.
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Despite a five-point deficit in the first quarter, Josh Giddey of the OKC Thunder emerged, contributing 10 of his 14 points in the second quarter. This surge aided Australia in ending the first half with a five-point lead at 45-40.
The third quarter saw the 3rd-ranked Australians capitalize on their momentum with a 9-4 run, securing a double-digit lead at 54-44 within the first three minutes.
With a 16-point lead by the end of the third quarter (70-54), the Boomers tightened their grip further with a 13-3 run at the start of the final frame, extending the lead to 83-57.
Australia’s lead grew to 29 points, with Doup Reath’s layup under the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter serving as the exclamation point.
NBA talent played a pivotal role for Australia, as OKC Thunder’s rising star Giddey nearly secured a double-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Orlando Magic veteran forward Joe Ingles and Dallas Mavericks’ wingman Dante Exum contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Despite leading the scorers for Japan with 20 points, Phoenix Suns sniper Yuta Watanabe struggled with efficiency. Yudai Baba was the only other player to reach double digits for Japan with 15 points.
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen led the 24th-ranked Wolfpack with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block. Sasu Salin added 13 points. (Jose Gabriel Ignacio)
The Scores:
First Game:
Australia 98 — Mills 25, Giddey 14, Ingles 13, Exum 10, Cooks 9, Reath 8, White 7, Green 6, Kay 4, Thybulle 2, Daniels 0, Goulding 0
Finland 72 — Markkanen 19, Salin 13, Madsen 8, Jantunen 8, Valtonen 7, Nkamhoua 6, Murphy 4, Little 3, Kantonen 2, Maxhuni 2, Grandison 0, Seppala 0
Quarterscores: 17-21, 40-45, 54-70, 72-98
Second Game:
Germany 81 — M. Wagner 25, Schroder 14, Theis 13, F. Wagner 10, Voigtmann 6, Obst 6, Bonga 4, Theimann 3, Giffey 0, Hollatz 0, Kramer 0, Lo 0
Japan 63 — Watanabe 20, Baba 15, Hawkinson 9, Kawamura 7, Tominaga 5, Yoshii 3, Nishida 2, Heijima 2, Inoque 0, Kwamata 0, Hara 0, Togashi 0
Quarterscores: 23-11, 53-31, 69-47, 81-63
