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Japan vs Australia: Basketball World Cup qualifier live scores, blog

29th June, 2018

LIVE SCORES

Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW

Japan vs Australia

Basketball World Cup, June 29. fulltime

Chiba Port Arena, Chiba, Japan
Japan Australia
79 SCORE 78
23 Q1 16
19 Q2 17
22 Q3 25
15 Q4 20
Tip-off: 8:40am (AEST)
Venue: Chiba Port Arena, Chiba, Japan
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting:
Last meeting: qualifiers, November 27, 2017 - Australia 82 defeat Japan 58 at Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide

Japan (expected)
Point guard: Makoto Hiejima
Shooting guard: Ryusei Shinoyama
Small forward: Daiki Tanaka
Power forward: Joji Takeuchi
Centre: Atsuya Ota
Bench: Ira Brown, Yuya Nagayoshi, Takatoshi Furukawa, Tenketsu Harimoto, Ryoma Hashimoto, Naoto Tsuji, Atsuya Ota, Naoki Uto

Australia (expected)
Point guard: Matthew Dellavedova
Shooting guard: Kevin Lisch
Small forward: Mitch McCarron
Power forward: Thon Maker
Centre: Angus Brandt
Bench: Daniel Kickert, Nick Kay, Anthony Drmic, Jason Cadee, Cameron Gliddon, Nathan Sobey, Chris Goulding
Australia will take on Iran in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Expert
29th June, 2018
141
2210 Reads

Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker will turn out for Australia in the NBA off-season as they look to start the second round of FIBA World Cup qualifiers from the strongest possible position on a trip to Japan. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:40pm (AEST).

It’s impossible that Australia won’t qualify for the second round of qualification, even if they were to lose both games in this final qualification window

Of course, it’s not just qualification that’s the issue. With points earned from the first round carrying over into the second, progressing on the back of as many wins as possible is the aim.

Australia are four wins from their four games so far, getting the better of Chinese Taipei home and away, as well as the Philippines and Japan at home.

This final window of matches was always going to be the toughest though, with games away against Japan and the Philippines in three days, their game against the Philippines coming on Monday.

The Boomers had no trouble at home against Japan, picking up a big 24-point win last November, but playing away may cause more issues.

Asian nations have a habit of packing arenas and making it tough on opposing teams, but the NBL squad had a successful trip to China in the last few weeks ago, so confidence will be high.

Where they will excel is with their height advantage. In the paint, Maker, Angus Brandt and Daniel Kickert (likely to come from the bench) will lead the way and should dominate the glass, as they have done in all four of their matches so far.

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On the other foot, Japan may find it hard to score through the ruthless defence of Dellavaedova and their inside men. If the Japanese are going to win, it’s going to take some great creativity and a willingness to scrap in the paint.

Despite being yet to win a game in this qualification campaign, their two losses at home (by six to the Philippines and one to Chinese Taipei) were close and hard-fought battles, something they will be looking to replicate here in a desperate bid to qualify.

Japan are likely to need wins in both of their games, so will come out swinging here, but it just doesn’t seem all that likely even if star guard Ryusei Shinoyama has a blinder.

Prediction
With Dellavedova and Maker back, as well as a more or less full strength NBL line-up, the Aussies will crush Japan by a pretty similar margin to their first outing.

Australia by 25.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this FIBA World Cup qualifier from 8:40pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.

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