Mavs' Josh Green, Dante Exum Help Australia in Win vs. Finland

Mavs' Josh Green and Dante Exum helped contribute to Australia's FIBA World Cup win vs. Finland.

OKINAWA, Japan — After a slow start, Australia achieved a major 98-72 victory over Lauri Markkanen's Finland squad in the first game of Group E competition at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Despite the final score, Australia actually trailed 36-28 at one point in the second quarter, but used a 17-4 run to to achieve a 45-40 advantage entering the break. The defensive execution elevated at the right time and after a nervous start offensively, the team settled into the game.

"I just thought we started poorly and I just thought we stayed with it," Australia head coach Brian Goorjian said. "What we talked about leading in the importance of the defense, I just thought we were tremendous defensively. It started at the end of the second quarter and went right through the second half and settled down offensively."

"We turned the ball over and I think that was nerves," Goorjian explained. "Everybody's wound for this first one. So we settled down and played off our defense and rebounded and I was pleased. We got a contribution from everybody."

Patty Mills and Josh Giddey proved to be the stars of the show. Mills led with 25 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Giddey had racked up 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, showing to be the missing piece in the backcourt the team didn't have at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games despite finishing with a Bronze medal. 

"He's our major offensive threat... Everybody's been saying, shoot, shoot, and you don't have to tell him that," Goorjian explained said of Mills. "His confidence doesn't wane and as we're preparing for the game, we were running stuff for him. 

"Forget that, we know the lights are on and we have total belief in him," Goorjian explained. "He's done it time and time again. We'll continue to go there."

The Dallas Mavericks were well represented with Josh Green and Dante Exum both playing helpful roles off Australia's bench. In 16 minutes, Exum totaled 10 points and four assists, while Green recorded six points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 14 minutes. 

Both Green and Exum offered Australia with needed energy and defensive versatility off the bench to spark positive momentum. 

"We've never had that length and athleticism like that [in Tokyo]," Goorjian said. "And it was different for Australia. Now, you add Josh Green, you add Xavier Cooks, you add Jack White. We've got more depth there, it's switchable, and even our point guard's 6-foot-8."

Goorjian continued: "We're small in the five and four, but versatility, I've never had versatility like this, and the depth in versatility that I have now."

Exum shined particularly in the third quarter, achieving eight points and three assists within that part of the game alone. He proved to be a helpful contributor in extending Australia's advantage after halftime.

"It's the same as Patty [Mills]: it's what we expect from him now," Joe Ingles said of Exum. "He's brought it really well the last 18 months. Injuries were something he was dealing with, getting his body right, but I think he's got himself in a really good spot.”

Ingles continued: "He knows what to do to be ready for a game, and defensively and offensively he's been huge for us over the last 12 months."

Green had momentum entering the first game of the World Cup to be the team's starter on the wing, but his recent injury limited his preparation opportunities. Australia opted to start Matisse Thybulle on the wing for this game instead. 

The next match for Australia will take place on Sunday, Aug. 27, against Germany.

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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