Australia takes a 1-0 lead in Group A of the Paris Olympics men's basketball tournament.
Australia made an early statement, blasting Spain, 92-80, to kickstart the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball action on Saturday, July 27 (Philippine time).
Five Boomers finished in double figures, with Jock Landale putting up a tour-de-force performance at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Landale led the Australian’s attack with 20 points he spiked with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in the highly charged match that was marred by an early altercation between Josh Green and Usman Garuba.
[ALSO READ: Paris 2024: Spain's Rudy Fernandez makes history with 6th Olympics appearance]
Patty Mills scored 19 points, including the booming triple with 24.3 ticks remaining in the game that doused Spain's last retort.
Josh Giddey put up an all-around outing with 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Jack McVeigh and Dyson Daniels chipped in 13 points apiece for the Boomers, who missed the services of injured Dante Exum (dislocated finger).
Australia asserted its mighty early on, posting a 31-17 advantage with at the 1:33 mark of the opening salvo on Mills' three-pointer.
[ALSO READ: "Starstruck" Joanie Delgaco shifts focus to repechage after tough rowing debut in Paris 2024]
Though their golden years were definitely behind them with the retirement of the Gasol brothers Pau and Marc, and Juan Carlos Navarro, Spain showed promise with the 23-year-old Santi Aldama pacing the world No. 2 team with 27 points on six three-pointers.
His last trey capped Spain’s 7-0 uprising inside the final two minutes of Group A action, with 43.7 seconds to go.
That’s when Australia activated FIBA Patty Mills.
No pressure could rattle the veteran’s nerves, as he went right off a screen and launched the triple that pretty much sealed the deal, 89-80.
Daniels sank another seconds later to deliver the finishing blow as Australia took a 1-0 lead in what is dubbed a Group of Death with Greece and Canada.
[ALSO READ: China outguns South Korea in air rifle mixed team shooting to claim first Paris 2024 gold]
Sergio Llull scored 17 points for Spain, while Willy Hernangomez had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Australia will next face Canada on July 30, while Spain will look to rebound from the loss against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece on the same day.