Shenzhen (China) (AFP)
American basketball players, favorites for gold despite the absence of their stars, began their World Cup with a big victory over the Czech Republic, 88 to 67, Sunday in Shanghai.
The men of Gregg Popovich, the coach of San Antonio Spurs, had no problems, winning four quarter-time and regularly widening the gap.
We expected no less from these players who, if they are only the C or D team of their country, are still all important NBA players. The Czech Republic, a country without reference in basketball, is also deprived of its best element, the interior Jan Vesely.
Utah Jazz back youngster Donovan Mitchell was the game's top scorer with 16 points, ahead of Harrison Barnes, the club's only Olympic champion (14 points), and point guard Kemba Walker (13 points), the one of only two All Star with Khris Middleton.
We will know a little more about the state of form of this team, which has undergone in preparation against Australia the first defeat of a collective 100% NBA since 2006, after the match Tuesday against Turkey.
The Turks easily dominated Japan 86-67 with 19 points from NBA veteran Ersan Ilyasova. The young Japanese basketball star Rui Hachimura, the first player in her country drafted this year, scored 15 points.
Apart from the entry of the doubles title holders, the most anticipated match was between Australia and Canada. Long hooked, the Australians won with a big fourth quarter (32-15). Their leader Matthew Dellavedova scored 24 points. On the Canadian side, Khem Birch, one of only two NBA players to miss the Maple Leaf team (out of a potential 15), scored 18 points.
In the same group (H) in Dongguan, Lithuania crushed Senegal 101 to 47.
In Nankin (Group F), Greece, one of the podium contenders, beat Montenegro 85-60. NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was happy with 10 points and 8 rebounds in 15 minutes.
© 2019 AFP