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China 68 – Australia 93
Coming off their legend-like challenging of Team USA, the Boomers had a lot of energy to direct toward China. Even with Andrew Bogut getting a rest day, Australia built a 30-point advantage in the 2nd half alone. Yi Jianlian kept China in it in the 1st, with 14 of his 20 points. But Cameron Bairstow cashed in 10 of his team-best 17 in the 2nd, and the Aussies cruised to the top mark in Group A (3-1).
NBA Watch
China
Zhou Qi (Houston Rockets): 6 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Wang Zhelin (Memphis Grizzlies): 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Australia
Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs): 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz): 4 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Matthew Dellavedova (Milwaukee Bucks): 6 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists
Aron Baynes (Detroit Pistons): 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
United States 94 – Serbia 91
If you thought Australia gave the US a run for their money, Serbia downright scared them. USA started the game on a 9-0 run, but it was not a sign of things to come as the two teams then played an even 35-35 through to half, Serbia keeping America’s lead within single digits. The US was uncharacteristically phased by two technical fouls and then DeAndre Jordan was called for an unsportsmanlike foul during a battle for a loose ball. The Raptors contingent of Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan sparked the US to a 10 point lead to close out the 3rd, but Serbia hung around in the 4th, employing the Hack-A-DeAndre tactic. The game stayed so close in fact, Serbia had two chances to tie with threes in the final minute, but both went clanging out, including Bogdan Bogdanovic’s wide open look at the final buzzer.
NBA Watch
Serbia
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets): 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
United States
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers): 15 points, 5 assists
Carmelo Anthony (Knicks): 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Paul George (Pacers): 12 points. 9 rebounds. 4 assists. 1 steal
France 96 – Venezuela 56
This game was all France right away, building a 12-point lead by half. Tony Parker’s club’s advantage ballooned to 20 after three quarters, and then 30 late in the 4th. In the final minute, with frustration showing for Venezuela, France set the gap to 40 points. The win assures France a spot in the top three of Group A and a place in the Quarterfinals. For Venezuela, they have as many points as 4th-place Serbia, but fell in the head-to-head matchup.
NBA Watch
France
Nicola Batum (Charlotte Hornets): 5 points
Joffrey Lauvergne (Denver Nuggets): 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) 14 points, 3 assists
Boris Diaw (Utah Jazz) 10 points, 4 rebounds
Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) 3 points, 5 rebounds
