Tall Blacks down Kazakhstan to open Fiba Asia Cup campaign
After some early scoring troubles, the New Zealand Tall Blacks eased to a victory in their first Fiba Asia Cup game in Lebanon.
Southland Sharks guard Derone Raukawa scored a game-high 17 points as Paul Henare's young Tall Blacks side defeated Kazakhstan 70-49 at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time).
While scoring was at a premium early, New Zealand strangled the Kazakhs out of the game at the defensive end, forcing 27 turnovers for the game, including 17 courtesy of steals, and holding them to 41 per cent shooting from the field and 28 per cent on three-point attempts.
Breakers forward Finn Delany posted a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Wellington Saints pair Shea Ili had 13 points and Jordan Ngatai 10 points.
In a low-scoring first half, the Tall Blacks led 29-22 at halftime, holding their opponents to just 11 points in each quarter.
New Zealand's shots started to drop in the third quarter as Ili made two early baskets, then Delany and Ngatai dropped threes to open up a 16-point lead. Kazakhstan closed within eight points multiple times towards the end of the quarter but a late 9-0 run saw them stretch it back out to 17 points.
Another three from Delany saw the lead move past 20 points and the Tall Blacks cruised from there, allowing Henare to give all his bench players some minutes.
New Zealand only shot 42 per cent from the field and 29 per cent on three-point shots but won the rebounding battle 37-30, including 16 offensive boards.
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The Tall Blacks face hosts Lebanon on Thursday (6am Friday NZT) and South Korea on Saturday (3.30am Sunday NZT) in their remaining Group C games.
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/95587452/tall-blacks-down-kazakhstan-to-open-fiba-asia-cup-campaign
Southland Sharks guard Derone Raukawa scored a game-high 17 points as Paul Henare's young Tall Blacks side defeated Kazakhstan 70-49 at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut on Tuesday (Wednesday NZ Time).
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| Derone Raukawa scored a game-high 17 points in the Tall Blacks' 70-49 victory over Kazakhstan. FIBA |
Breakers forward Finn Delany posted a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Wellington Saints pair Shea Ili had 13 points and Jordan Ngatai 10 points.
In a low-scoring first half, the Tall Blacks led 29-22 at halftime, holding their opponents to just 11 points in each quarter.
New Zealand's shots started to drop in the third quarter as Ili made two early baskets, then Delany and Ngatai dropped threes to open up a 16-point lead. Kazakhstan closed within eight points multiple times towards the end of the quarter but a late 9-0 run saw them stretch it back out to 17 points.
Another three from Delany saw the lead move past 20 points and the Tall Blacks cruised from there, allowing Henare to give all his bench players some minutes.
New Zealand only shot 42 per cent from the field and 29 per cent on three-point shots but won the rebounding battle 37-30, including 16 offensive boards.
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The Tall Blacks face hosts Lebanon on Thursday (6am Friday NZT) and South Korea on Saturday (3.30am Sunday NZT) in their remaining Group C games.
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/95587452/tall-blacks-down-kazakhstan-to-open-fiba-asia-cup-campaign
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