Expert
Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
Japan vs Australia |
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Basketball World Cup, June 29. fulltime |
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Chiba Port Arena, Chiba, Japan | ||
Japan | Australia | |
79 | SCORE | 78 |
23 | Q1 | 16 |
19 | Q2 | 17 |
22 | Q3 | 25 |
15 | Q4 | 20 |
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.
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.