2023-08-28 18:13:05
MANILA (AP) — Another recital for Luka Doncic at the basketball World Cup.
After scoring 37 points in Slovenia’s debut win over Venezuela, the Dallas Mavericks star had 34 in an 88-67 win over Georgia on Monday. He also had 10 rebounds and six assists for Slovenia, who got a foothold in the second round.
Defending champions Spain and the United States secured their tickets to the next round with victories. In their first big test by fire, Spain beat Brazil 96-78. The Americans, seventh in the previous World Cup, dispatched Greece 109-81.
Khaman Maluach, a 16-year-old from South Sudan, scored a point and played 16 minutes in his team’s 89-69 win over Canada, becoming one of the earliest players to play at a World Cup.
Maluach, who stands at 7-foot-1 and looms as a 2025 NBA draft prospect, will turn 17 next month. The others younger than Maluach in the history of the tournament are the Ivorian Georges Lath (16 years and 3 months in 1986) and the Chinese Gao Ailun (16 years and 9 months years, 9 months in 2010).
South Sudan and Cape Verde, two modest teams from Africa, scored victories that keep them alive. New Zealand and the Ivory Coast did the same.
Five teams had already secured their tickets to the second round: Latvia, Canada, Germany, Montenegro and Lithuania. Spain and the United States joined them on Monday in the round of 16. France, silver medal in the last Olympic Games, on Sunday.
GROUP F — CAPE VERDE 81, VENEZUELA 75
In the Japanese city of Okinawa, Betinho Gomes scored 22 and Will Tavares added 20 as Cape Verde (1-1) beat Venezuela (0-2). Iván Almeida contributed 18.
Cape Verde is the team with the lowest FIBA ranking in this World Cup, but they have shown a good level.
Venezuela led 46-33 at halftime, but only scored 29 points in the last two quarters. David Cubillán led Venezuela with 15 points and Jhornan Zamora added 14.
Cape Verde will meet Slovenia on Wednesday and Georgia will face Venezuela.
GROUP F — SLOVENIA 88, GEORGIA 67
Doncic was the figure in Okinawa. Klemen Prepelic contributed 15 points for the Slovenians.
Alexander Mamukelashvili led Georgia (1-1) with 21 points
POOL C — USA 109, GREECE 81
In Manila, Austin Reaves had 15 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards each added 13 points as the Americans (2-0) reached the round of 16. They sealed the qualification with the collaboration of New Zealand’s victory over Jordan 95-87.
Georgios Papagiannis scored 17 points for the Greeks (1-1), who play qualifying against New Zealand on Wednesday.
POOL B — SERBIA 94, PUERTO RICO 77
In Manila, Bogdan Bogdanovic, a player for the Atlanta Hawks, scored 17 points for Serbia, which opened a 30-point lead over the Puerto Ricans at halftime.
Nikola Jovic of the Miami Heat scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half to spark Serbia’s offense (2-0).
Puerto Rico (1-1) reduced the difference to 10 points in the fourth period until Serbia reacted.
Isaiah Piñeiro scored 14 points for the Puerto Ricans, who made 15 of 38 from three-pointers but barely 27 of 74 from the field.
Serbia will face South Sudan on Wednesday and Puerto Rico against China.
GROUP G — SPAIN 96, BRAZIL 78
In Jakarta, former NBA player Willy Hernangómez scored 14 points and Juan Núñez and Santi Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies scored 13 points each for the Spanish cause. Núñez, 19, added seven rebounds and five assists.
Spain secured qualification with the help of Ivory Coast’s 71-69 victory over Iran.
Bruno Caboclo, a former NBA player, had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Brazil (1-1).
Spain made 10 of 24 triples, while Brazil only made 9 of 33.
The Brazilians will face Ivory Coast (1-1) on Wednesday and Iran (0-2) will face Spain.
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