The Australian Boomers will look to make improvements in their final game at the Commonwealth Games when they take on Nigeria, who must find some confidence ahead of the knockout stages. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9pm (AEST).
Australia have two wins on the scoreboard to start their campaign, but despite what the final results say, they haven’t quite been at their best.
Their are issues in the back court for the Boomers, with the side seemingly unable to start games strongly.
In their opener against Canada – a team they should have belted from the outset – the Boomers found themselves behind in the first quarter and struggling to take the ascendence until the second half of the contest.
They can’t afford to gloss over the cracks of the 39-point win, which they appeared to do against New Zealand. The Tall Blacks are the team most likely to challenge Australia for gold and the Boomers found themselves behind for most of the match, coming from behind to win it in the fourth.
While the Boomers aren’t going to be knocked out of semi-final contention, they need to make improvements in this game and will have a chance to do so against a struggling Nigerian outfit.
Nigeria have been belted by New Zealand and Canada in their first two games, but were better for the run against Canada, winning the third quarter and challenging in the fourth.
The African outfit will advance to the qualifying finals and play either England or Scotland regardless of the result tonight, with Azuoma Dike proving a key man.
Stopping the Australian big men will be a challenge for Nigeria, but they will look to build some confidence, stay in the contest and hope to be in with a shot of winning it at the back end.
Prediction
The Boomers will win this game, the only question being by how much? For Australia, it’s not so much the margin, but instead, how they start the game and whether their back court can operate as one cohesive unit for the entirety.
If they do that, it’ll be a drubbing. They should, regardless, make improvements.
Australia by 31.
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Internal Fixation
Guest
Boomers WC C Baynes/Maker/Bogut PF Johnson/Kickett SF Ingles/Creek SG Mills/Goulding PG Simmons/Exum/Delly Reserve: Sobey/Martin Have missed a few I know but this is my pick to challenge the best
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening right here on The Roar for our live coverage of the Commonwealth Games. Hopefully you enjoyed it. I'll be back at 10am (AEST) tomorrow morning for live coverage of the men's Individual Time Trial in road cycling. Bye for now.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
I guess they could probly do it without them.
Scott Pryde
Expert
No dramas Damo! Cheers. We will have the Aussie semi-final and both medal matches.
Damo
Guest
Thanks Scott, not much more to say. See you for the finals.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on that Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Martin tips the inbound pass over the baseline. 14 seconds to go and from the next inbound it's out the back to Yahaya who gets it away to Dung He is doubled, then it's Yahaya who looks to do something, Martin getting a hand on the ball as it goes over the sideline. 1.6 seconds to go, Nigeria can't do anything about it and Australia win it by 42 points. The Boomers now have three days to prepare for the semi-finals. That'll be played on Saturday morning back on the Gold Coat. Big win, but there is still plenty to work on ahead of the medal matches. Australia - 97 Nigeria - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Well, who knows why. Nigeria dragging this out with a timeout, because, yep, they can score 42 points in 18 seconds to send it to overtime! Now wouldn't that be something? Australia - 97 Nigeria - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final minute here. Not a great deal going on, but Australia going for 100, so there's something. Newley misses a three with 18 seconds to go. Australia - 97 Nigeria - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Australia turn it over with a halfcourt violation. From the inbound it's Ofoegbu and he scores baseline. Australia - 91 Nigeria - 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Walker this time with a jam! That was almost a tip in off a missed Sobey shot. Now it's Ofoegbu with a three. Australia - 91 Nigeria - 46
Scott Pryde
Expert
No NBA players... Period.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Nigeria finally get on the board for the fourth quarter after the timeout, then it's Cadee missing a three. Australia - 89 Nigeria - 43
KenoathCarnt
Guest
No Ben Simmons?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Australia on a 13-0 run. Nigeria call timeout. Australia - 89 Nigeria - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Nigeria turn it over, then Kickert goes the go ahead pass to Sobey who throws it down! Australia - 89 Nigeria - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Kickert launches a three! Australia - 87 Nigeria - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' This game is definitely in garbage time now. Turnovers, poor offensive sets. It's all happening. Australia - 84 Nigeria - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Brandt picks up his first foul now. Australia - 81 Nigeria - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Brandt with some high quality defence now, before Australia work from Newley to Walker and then it's Wagstaff with the shot clock running down. Brandt fires, but that's off. Australia - 81 Nigeria - 41