Boomers too strong for Germany to go 3-0

The Australian Boomers continue to gather form and momentum game after game at the Tokyo Olympics producing their best performance yet to beat Germany 89-76 on Saturday.

The Boomers started off their Olympic campaign with a gritty 84-67 win over Nigeria back on Sunday before producing an improved performance but facing stiffer opposition to win a thriller 86-83 over Italy on Wednesday.

That had Australia already booked to move into the knockout phase in Tokyo coming into Saturday's clash with Germany at Saitama Super Arena but going through undefeated atop Group B would have them ideally placed to make a run for that long-awaited medal.

Germany was playing to stay alive in the tournament, though, and went on a 9-0 run early and led for much of the first half despite a Chris Goulding bomb on three quarter-time for the green and gold.

The Boomers did work their way on top thanks to Nathan Sobey and Patty Mills during the second quarter and that helped them to a four-point half-time lead.

It was then all Mills and the Boomers in the second half. A four-point play from Mills had the Boomers out to a 10-point lead and with Jock Landale and Nick Kay dominant offensive forces in the absence of Aron Baynes, Australia proved too strong and went on to win 89-76.

The Boomers won comfortably over Germany despite being outrebounded by 17 and giving up 18 offensive boards for 14 second chance points. However, Australia forced the Germans into 18 turnovers for the game scoring 19 points as a result.

Patty Mills had a bit of a slow start on the shooting front, but sure got rolling by the second half scoring the opening six points after half-time on his way to 24 for the game with six assists while hitting 5/15 from three-point land.

Any fears of Australia standing up without Aron Baynes in the middle was alleviated at least for now with Jock Landale delivering 18 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Kay outstanding with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes of pure hustle.

Joe Ingles hit two dagger fourth quarter threes on his way to six points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals with Dante Exum looking exciting again for eight points, four boards and three assists.

Duop Reath, Nathan Sobey and Matisse Thybulle all had four points apiece with Thybulle adding four steals again along with his stifling, game-changing defence when he gets in the lanes. Chris Goulding also hit a big three on quarter-time.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian 

"A core of this group has been together for 12 years and it’s got a special camaraderie and plays with a special teamship, and it’s got a chance in these games of importance to showcase that," Goorjian said.

"As far as game style – it’s the extra pass on offence and it’s the five guys playing together and rotating defensively. The first game we played against Nigeria, they may be the toughest team we’ve played defensively but we had 24 turnovers. Tonight, we played a very physical, well-coached team and had six turnovers.

"The key for us tonight again was the defensive end of the floor, the extra pass, getting the ball from side-to-side then putting the ball in the right guy’s hand. It's a long way to go for us but nice progression from one game to two games to tonight the third game."

Reigning NBL Grand Final MVP Jock Landale started the game perfectly with a three and then a dunk to put Australia up 5-0, but then Germany got going with the next nine points, and maintained that momentum to end up leading 22-18 by quarter-time.

A triple from Patty Mills and three-point play from Nick Kay helped Australia stay in touch of Germany early in the second quarter, before Nathan Sobey came up with a couple of big plays and Mills nailed another triple to help the Boomers regain the lead, and then go into half-time up 44-40.

Mills scored to open the second and then took a game to jack up another three soon after, and when it fell and he fouled to make it a four-point play, the Boomers were up 10 and all the momentum.

But Germany hit the next 10 points immediately after with eight of those from Andreas Obst. Kay responded immediately with a triple and then Matisse Thybulle forced the steal and scored on the fast break.

The Boomers then hit the next six points and were on track up seven by three quarter-time.

Germany's rebounding dominance was keeping them in the game, but with two triples to Joe Ingles and another to Mills in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter Australia was still up eight.

Kay then scored six points on his own in the space of a couple of minutes and with help from Mills and Landale the Boomers were able to hold off Germany to win by 13.

TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
GROUP PHASE

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 89 (Mills 24, Landale 18, Kay 16)

GERMANY 76 (Obst 17, Giffey 11, Thiemann 11) 

BOX SCORE