VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — In the days before Australia’s Paris Olympics opener against Spain, coach Brian Goorjian looked to the past.
He made his team watch one of the Australians’ most heartbreaking moments in international play – a double extra-time defeat to the Spanish in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals.
“We showed a short video from the past to keep them hooked,” Goorjian said. “There is a fear that no matter how much better you work or play, in a three-minute period they can go ‘whack, whack, whack’ and you will be in trouble.”
It turned out to be exactly the shock his team needed.
Jock Landale had 20 points and nine rebounds as Australia beat Spain 92-80 on Saturday to open the group stage of the Olympic basketball tournament in Lille.
Patty Mills added 19 points and Josh Giddey contributed 17 to lead Australia to victory in Group A, which also includes Greece and Canada. Australia will face Canada on Tuesday, while Spain will face Greece.
“They made two big attacks on us and then took the lead. I thought we were fearless and brave, and I thought we played great guard,” Goorjian said. “Just a good contribution from everyone.”
Australia led by as many as 14 points before Spain surged and used a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 56-54, in the third quarter. The Australians responded with a 15-4 run to close the period and never lost again.
“Not wavering is one of the things we talk about,” Giddey said. “They will have their races, we will have ours. It’s just whoever can weather the storm best.”
Santi Aldama finished with 17 points for Spain. Sergio Llull scored 17 for the Spaniards, who made 12 3-pointers but shot 39% overall from the field for the game at Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Australia established its presence in the paint early, scoring 42 goals in the game and maintaining a 46-34 rebounding advantage.
“We know the physical level of a team with eight or nine NBA players; That’s what puts them above most teams,” said Spain coach Sergio Scariolo.
The Australians led 49-42 at half-time.
Australia raced out to a 31-17 lead, with Landale scoring eight early points.
Spain then capitalized on a 10-0 run that began late in the first quarter and continued into the second to get back into the game.
The Australians’ momentum was also disrupted by a heated argument late in the first quarter.
With 2:13 left in the period, Spaniard Usman Garuba hit a hard screen on Australian Josh Green, causing him to stumble backwards. Green objected and got in Garuba’s face. Garuba slapped Green’s hand and Will Magnay stepped in to defend his teammate, which led to Garuba pushing him.
The referees analyzed the incident and committed double unsportsmanlike fouls on Garuba and Magnay.
Two more incidents also resulted in brief stoppages of play.
Franz Wagner had 22 points and six rebounds as Germany pulled away from Japan in the second half to secure victory in Group B.
Daniel Theis added 18 points and seven rebounds. Moritz Wagner added 15 points for the defending World Cup champions, who have never been behind. Germany will have Brazil as their next opponent in the group stage on Tuesday. Japan faces Olympic hosts France.
Germany had five players worth double figures.
Rui Hachimura finished with 20 points for Japan, which has just 13 victories in seven Olympic appearances.
Germany entered the Olympics third in the FIBA world rankings, behind the USA and Spain.
They played like this against the Japanese, never losing and taking a 16-point lead in the second quarter. The Germans scored 46 points in the paint and also had a great contribution from the bench, which contributed 38 points.
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