Giddey shines bright as Boomers bounce back

Former Adelaide 36ers NBL Next Star point guard Josh Giddey has led the Australian Boomers into the next stage of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Giddey scored a team-high 26 points and dished out 11 assists as the Aussies bounced back from a stunning loss to Germany to defeat host nation Japan 109-89 in Okinawa on Tuesday night.

The shock loss to Germany on Sunday meant the world No.3 had to beat Japan to avoid dropping into the classification for places 17 and below.

Australia held a 22-point lead at the main break, but Japan caught fire in the third quarter, doubling their score and gaining huge home crowd momentum going into the final 10 minutes.

But the Boomers steadied late, Giddey found his shot and attacked the rim on a number of mismatches as Australia moved on to the next group stage.

Reigning NBL23 MVP and current Washington Wizards forward Xavier Cooks dominated around the rim with 24 points and 16 rebounds off the bench for the Boomers.

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If New Zealand lose to Greece on Wednesday, it will also mean Australia secures qualification for next year's Olympics as the highest-finishing Oceania team.

Elevated to the starting line-up instead of Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green (15 points, four steals) proved a powerful spark plug to ensure no repeat of their slow starts against Finland and Germany.

He had an early four-point play and was a menace in defence and transition, helping Giddey and Duop Reath score freely.

Joe Ingles added his silky touch as the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists assisted on nine of their 11 first-quarter baskets.

After scoring the side's first 13 points against Germany, Patty Mills didn't open his account until the Boomers had 37 on the scoreboard.

Naturalised American Josh Hawkinson (33 points, seven rebounds) kept attacking for Japan and found support in Mills' former Brooklyn NBA teammate Yuta Watanabe (24 points).

Australia 109 (Giddey 26, Cooks 24, Green 15)

Japan 89 (Hawkinson 33, Watanabe 24, Togashi 14)

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