Boasting a roster with nine NBA players, Australia leaned on its veteran leadership to defeat Spain on Saturday to open the 2024 Olympic Games at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France.
Houston Rockets forward Jock Landale produced a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds, free agent Patty Mills scored 19 points and Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey added 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the 92-80 victory.
Australia also received strong contributions from Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (13 points, seven rebounds) and newly-signed Rockets forward Jack McVeigh (13 points, seven rebounds), who accounted for nearly all of its 15 bench points.
Boomers 🇦🇺 assisted 25 of their 34 field goals made against Spain 😳#Paris2024 x #Basketball pic.twitter.com/j80NsINIzP
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 27, 2024
Australia controlled much of the contest and led by as many as 14 points. The team shot 50.8% from the field, compared to 39.1% for Spain, and held a 46-32 advantage in rebounding. It was also plus-12 in points in the paint over Spain.
Santi Aldama scored a game-high 27 points to lead Spain, while Sergio Llull had 17 points and Willy Hernangómez added 14 points. The group kept it close in the second half, and even led briefly, but was unable to pull ahead down the stretch.
After defeating Spain, Australia will face Canada next in Group A on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. EDT. The Boomers will wrap up the group phase of the tournament on Aug. 2 with Greece.
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