The FIBA World Cup 2023 kicked off on Friday with 16 games across three host countries: Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. Several NBA players were in action, representing their national teams and showcasing their skills on the international stage.
Here are some of the highlights and reactions from the first day of the tournament:
- Australia defeated Senegal 81-68 behind a balanced scoring attack led by Josh Giddey (15 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Joe Ingles (14 points, five assists). Patty Mills added 13 points and Matisse Thybulle had 12 points, four steals and three blocks for the Boomers, who are aiming for their first medal at the World Cup.
- Canada stunned France 95-65 in a dominant performance that saw them lead by as many as 37 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points, RJ Barrett had 18 points and eight rebounds, and Dillon Brooks chipped in 17 points for the Canadians, who shot 52.9 percent from the field and held France to 35.7 percent. Rudy Gobert was the lone bright spot for France with 16 points and nine rebounds.
- The Dominican Republic edged out the Philippines 87-81 in front of a raucous crowd at the Philippine Arena. Karl-Anthony Towns was the star of the show with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Victor Liz added 18 points off the bench for the D.R. Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points and dished out eight assists for the hosts, who nearly erased a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Other notable results from Day 1 include:
- Italy beat Angola 92-61 with Nicolo Melli scoring 21 points and grabbing nine boards.
- Lithuania routed Egypt 102-60 with Jonas Valanciunas posting a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds.
- Spain defeated Iran 73-65 with Ricky Rubio leading the way with 20 points and five assists.
- Serbia topped Puerto Rico 80-68 with Nikola Jokic recording a triple-double of 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
The FIBA World Cup 2023 will continue on Saturday with another set of 16 games, featuring teams such as USA, Greece, Argentina and Nigeria.
