Giddey Shines, Reath Benefits in Boomers Blowout

A spectacular all-round performance from NBA star Josh Giddey who just missed a triple-double helped Duop Reath to shine and for the Australian Boomers to hammer Venezuela 97-41 ahead of the FIBA World Cup.

The preparations for the FIBA World Cup are now heating up for the Boomers ahead of heading to Japan for the first game on Friday August 25, and it was a dominant performance in front of the home fans in Melbourne at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

Despite the absence of Jock Landale and Josh Green, it was a commanding performance all evening from the Boomers in the first of three games this week in the Boomers vs The World that will now include matches with Brazil and South Sudan ahead of the World Cup.

Oklahoma City Thunder NBA star Josh Giddey enjoyed the chance to show his wares in his home town and flirted with a triple-double for the Boomers with his 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in just over 24 minutes of court time.

His connection with Duop Reath was remarkable with the Boomers big man nailing 12/14 of his field goals on the way to a game-high 26 points.

Every Boomers player who hit the floor made a contribution with Joe Ingles adding 12 points and three rebounds, Matisse Thybulle eight points and two steals, Patty Mills eight points and four assists, and Dante Exum eight points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists.

Nick Kay also had seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, Dyson Daniels five points, Xavier Cooks five points, five rebounds, four blocks and two assists, and Jack White four points and eight rebounds.

The only concern was a knee injury suffered by Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding with fingers crossed he pulls up well before Wednesday's next game.

It was a tough night for Venezuela who shot 25 per cent from the floor, 6/36 from downtown and had 24 turnovers with Garly Sojo top-scoring with 12 points.

The Boomers made the perfect start with baskets to Patty Mills and Josh Giddey before Giddey began really putting on a show with on-point passes to set up finishes for Duop Reath in the 9-2 start.

Matisse Thybulle then also knocked down a three-pointer to make it 12-2 before Venezuela did have what would be their best run of the game with the next nine points including three-point makes from Garly Sojo and Pedro Chourio.

The Boomers responded with the next six points and then another seven consecutively following that including a triple from Joe Ingles to head into quarter-time leading 27-16.

It was then all the Boomers to open up the second quarter with the opening 12 points which made it a 14-0 run either side of quarter-time with the lead out to 39-16.

Another run of 12 straight points then blew the game out further in Australia's favour including yet another dunk from Reath on a pinpoint pass from Giddey before he added a three-point play, and Mills delivered a four-point play.

A triple from Nick Kay helped the Boomers to the 54-23 half-time lead with Reath having 15 points and Giddey seven to go with six assists and four rebounds with Australia knocking down 68 per cent from the field and 5/9 from three-point range.

It was a tough half for Venezuela with countless air balls on their 4/18 three-point shooting and going 27 per cent from the floor and with 13 turnovers.

It was more of the same to open the second half for Australia with the opening 12 points to see the lead balloon to 43 points. Venezuela then managed their only four points of the period before the Boomers hit the last nine including triples from Joe Ingles and Dyson Daniels.

That saw Australia's lead 75-27 by three quarter-time and to the credit of Venezuela they did perform better in the final period with 14 points, but the Boomers got going again with another 14-0 run that included a couple more finishes from Reath before he hit from deep and Australia won by 56.

The Boomers will next play Brazil at 3.30pm local time at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday and then South Sudan on Thursday evening before heading to Japan for a hit out with France on Saturday before the FIBA World Cup begins against Finland on Friday August 25.

BOOMERS vs THE WORLD – FIBA WORLD CUP WARM UP

AUSTRALIAN BOOMERS 97 (Reath 26, Giddey 14, Ingles 12)

VENEZUELA 41 (Sojo 12, Sifontes 7, Chourio 5, Zamora 5) 

BOX SCORE