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2019 Basketball World Cup, Round 1, Match 3: Australia vs Lithuania |
||
| Venue: Dongguan Basketball Centre, Dongguan, China | ||
| Match time: Fulltime | ||
| Lithuania | Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | SCORE | 87 |
| 19 | Q1 | 27 |
| 22 | Q2 | 25 |
| 19 | Q3 | 16 |
| 22 | Q4 | 19 |
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The Australian Boomers will play their most pivotal match of the Basketball World Cup so far when they take on a strong Lithuanian side in the final match of the opening round. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 9:30pm (AEST).
While the Boomers progression to the second round, where they will meet France and the Dominican Republic has already been confirmed, results carry over, so this is a critical contest.
In both groups, all four teams sit on two and zero from the games played so far, with France to play the Dominican Republic and Australia to play Lithuania this evening in what is essentially the second round come early.
Win, and you go into the next round with a three and zero record, lose and you’re already behind the eight ball.
Getting the win becomes even more wildly important for the Boomers when you take into account the points differential gap. Australia had a tight win over Senegal, while Lithuania blew them off the floor by over 50 points.
But this won’t be any old walk in the park for the Australian outfit.
One of their big problems against Senegal, and why the game was so tight despite the obvious talent gap between the two sides, was the way the African nation crashed the glass.
They outrebounded the Aussies by packing the paint time and time again, and with Lithuania possessing NBA big men Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis, that challenge will again be a heavy one for the Aussie inside trio of Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes and Nick Kay.
In truth, that and the Boomers worrying turnover count has been the only real problems throughout the opening two games, but do that again and Lithuania will get out, run the floor and punish the Boomers.
There is no question Lithuania have looked the better team so far, however, they haven’t had a real challenge yet, so it is hard to get a read.
What Australia absolutely must do though is not allow Lithuania to get on a run at any point, like they have with Senegal and Canada. That’s partly down to the coaching of Andrej Lemanis to control the game, but with Lithuania’s huge fan support who have travelled to China, things could get away from the men from down under, and fast.
If they are going to win, Australia need to ensure they shoot the ball well, with Patty Mills and Joe Ingles needing to step up, allowing Matthew Dellavedova to run the offence with his excellent passing game, while Chris Goulding must continue his form from the pine.
Lithuania don’t have the creativity of Australia, and that is one area they will have to address heading into the game, keeping it low-scoring and inside the paint through Sabonis and Valanciunas as much as possible.
Prediction
This is a tough game to tip, but I just haven’t seen enough positive signs out of the Boomers yet. They might struggle to get the job done here, and with their for and against, it could be a death blow on their aspirations to make the final eight.
Lithuania by 3.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Basketball World Cup match from 9:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 9:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Dongguan Basketball Centre, Dongguan, China
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Kayo Sports, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now
Betting: Australia $1.80, Lithuania $2
Australia
Point guard: Patty Mills
Shooting guard: Matthew Dellavedova
Small forward: Joe Ingles
Power forward: Jock Landale
Centre: Aron Baynes
Bench: Andrew Bogut, Mitch Creek, Cameron Gliddon, Chris Goulding, Nick Kay, David Barlow, Nathan Sobey
Lithuania
Point guard: Marius Grigonis
Shooting guard: Mantas Kalnietis
Small forward: Jonas Maciulis
Power forward: Domantas Sabonis
Centre: Jonas Valanciunas
Bench: Renaldas Seibutis, Paulius Jankunas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Rokas Giedraitis, Lukas Lekavicius, Arnas Butkevicius, Edgaras Ulanovas
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