The Boomers stormed back to produce an impressive FIBA World Cup warm-up win over medal contenders France, 78-74.
Early signs were not good for Australia, who looked “in all sorts” according to Andrew Gaze as they fell behind 27-19 after the first quarter.
Only compounding the Boomers’ woes was an injury concern for Josh Green after the Dallas Mavericks star hobbled off.
But a 47-point second half, with five Aussies reaching double figures on points – Nick Kay (12), Josh Giddey (12), Patty Mills (11), Dante Exum (11) and Duop Reath (11) – was enough for the comeback win.
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New York Knicks star Evan Fournier made a fast start on Sunday, scoring eight of France’s opening 13 points after going 2-for-2 early from downtown.
“That’s a bad sign for Australia if he gets it going,” Gaze said in commentary.
Patty Mills, meanwhile, struggled to find his rhythm from deep as he came up short on a 3-point attempt off a Josh Giddey pass.
Green had no such issues though, draining his first attempt but otherwise the Boomers couldn’t get much going on the offensive end, guilty of two sloppy turnovers.
That, in turn, put pressure on Australia in defence and the Boomers struggled to contain Fournier and Rudy Gobert.
“They are these types that lead to tough defensive situations. It’s been a sloppy start here for Australia both with their efficiency and the turnovers,” Gaze said.
Gobert then finished over the top of starting centre Duop Reath, who the Boomers will have to lean on heavily with Jock Landale injured.
“This is way too easy for France,” Gaze said, adding that “alarm bells” would be ringing for coach Brian Goorjian given the ease in which Gobert had been feasting in the paint.
Early foul trouble also saw Nick Kay and Xavier Cooks sit and Reath brought back into the game, limiting Goorjian’s opportunities to experiment with his line-up.
The Boomers ended the first quarter in strong fashion as some of France’s starters came out of the game, with Reath finishing well in the paint while Matisse Thybulle disruptive defence also forced a turnover that was turned into points.
“He is a sensation… he has really improved and looked very comfortable out there with his teammates,” Gaze said of Reath.
Meanwhile, Jack White — who would have missed out on selection had it not been for Landale’s injury — impressed early with his energy and intensity on both ends early in the second quarter.
White came up with a few crucial stops and later drained an open 3-pointer while a beautiful bounce pass from Josh Giddey to a cutting Nick Kay cut France’s lead to 27-24.
Australia did well to recover from the slow start but still went into halftime trailing 39-31, a solid result considering Mills went 0-for-7 from deep after going 5-for-25 in the three Melbourne warm-up games.
“If you look at a lot of his shots, that is a tough one… but some of the other ones he’s taken have been really good looks,” Gaze said.
“He’s done it that many times that you never lose faith in Patty Mills but it’d be nice to see him get some confidence.”
A big third quarter saw the Aussies storm back into the contest before a late France bucket kept them ahead 58-56 at the final change.
In the fourth quarter, Reath received the ball at the top of the key and unleased a two-handed dunk over towering French big man Rudy Gobert.
Giddey also ripped the ball out of Gobert’s hands in a clutch play with a minute remaining, allowing Patty Mills to shoot the matchwinning two-pointer.
Update on injured Landale
While Australia initially planned to travel to Japan with a 13-man squad before making a final cut that decision has since been taken out of coach Goorjian’s hands.
Australia suffered a setback Saturday with the Houston Rockets’ Landale ruled out with a left ankle injury.
The Boomers’ starting centre hurt himself during a warm-up match with South Sudan in Melbourne on Thursday and scans showed “a lateral ankle ligament injury”.
Coach Brian Goorjian said it was a huge disappointment.
“The team is really hurting for Jock. He’s a big part of the culture in this team and everybody loves him,” Goorjian said.
“He was really excited about this, so it’s a real kick in the guts, but as far as our belief — that hasn’t waned.”
Landale will head back to Houston to prepare for the NBA season.
“All the build-up and preparation we go through as athletes just to have it yanked away 12 hours beforehand sucks,” he tweeted as the Australian team departed for Japan.
“Focus turns to supporting them how I can and preparing for this season with the @HoustonRockets.”
The Boomers were already without Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons who opted out of the World Cup, which runs from August 25 to September 10 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
But they have a slew of other NBA players on board, including veteran Patty Mills and rising star Josh Giddey.
Australia finished fourth at the World Cup in China in 2019 and third at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Originally published as Aussie dunks on NBA giant as Boomers win despite another injury scare