Boomers sweep series against Greece

Updated June 27, 2012 22:25:13

Australia wrapped up its farewell series against Greece with a 79-58 victory in the third and final game in Geelong.

The Boomers, who won the opening two games of the series 87-60 and 91-51, looked set for a comfortable victory when they held a 17-point advantage at half-time.

But that was reduced to just five points when the Greeks fought back in the third quarter to trail 44-39.

The hosts found enough in the tank to re-focus in the final term and ice the win, which gave them a 3-0 series triumph in their last hit-out on Australian soil before the London Olympics.

Matthew Dellavedova led the scoring for the Boomers with 12 points, while Joe Ingles and Brad Newley added 11-point hauls.

Georgios Bogris and Nikolaos Pappas both posted 16 points for Greece.

Their first game at the London Olympics is against Brazil on July 29.

Tags: sport, basketball, olympics-summer, geelong-3220

First posted June 27, 2012 22:23:49

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Boomers easily clinch Greece series

Updated June 25, 2012 22:10:26

Australia's warm-up for the London Olympic basketball tournament continued in strong fashion with a 91-51 win over Greece in front of a sell-out crowd in Knox on Monday night.

The Boomers exploded out of the blocks with a 25-9 first quarter before the visitors regrouped and stayed closer in the second and third periods.

But the damage was done by three-quarter time and Australia put the nail in the coffin with a 29-11 final period to seal the three-game Farewell Series after winning the opener on Sunday night in Melbourne.

Boomers forward Joe Ingles led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding four rebounds and three assists, while veteran big Mark Worthington (15 points) and Brad Newley (13) chipped in as well.

Rising star Aleks Maric posted nine points and eight boards while spearhead point guard Patty Mills had just five points and three assists in 18 minutes on the floor.

Nikolaos Pappas was the lone Greek player to reach double figures on the scoreboard.

The final match of the series is a sold-out encounter in Geelong on Wednesday night.

Tags: basketball, sport, knox-city-centre-3152, vic, australia, greece

First posted June 25, 2012 21:54:01

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Heat hang on to beat Thunder and tie series

Updated June 15, 2012 15:16:52

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade proved they were not yet ready to pass the torch to the next generation by leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday (AEST).

James scored 32 points and Wade added 24 as the veteran-laden Heat rebounded from Tuesday night's lacklustre 105-94 setback to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Oklahoma City fought back from a 13-point deficit in the last nine minutes and trailed 98-96 when Kevin Durant missed a five-footer with 10 seconds left.

James was fouled on the rebound and calmly sank two free throws with seven seconds to play to seal the victory.

"We've been down, we've withstood rallies," James told reporters. "Good thing about it is when they scored we didn't put our head down. That's a great team we're going against."

Oklahoma City's frenetic running game made Miami look old in game one and the Heat responded with an 18-2 run to open the Thursday's game and silence the 18,000 at Chesapeake Arena.

But the Thunder came roaring back with Durant scoring 16 of his 32 points in the final quarter. Durant had only six points at the half and finished the game with 12 of 22 shooting.

"It's going to take all the way down to those zeros on that clock to get a win," said James, who had eight rebounds, five assists and hit all 12 of his free throws.

"We did a really good job of contesting their shots. That allowed us to get rebounds. A good job by all of us defensively. It's always good to get a win on the road."

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had 27 points and seven assists, while James Harden came off the bench to score 21.

"He was doing it at both ends like he has been doing it all year long," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of James.

"This is going to be probably like this every single game. That's the beauty of competition at this level."

The best-of-seven series shifts to Miami for game three on Sunday night.

Reuters

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted June 15, 2012 14:13:41

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Boomers seal series win over China

Updated June 12, 2012 07:54:35

Australia's men's basketball team recorded a thrilling series-clinching 69-65 win over China on Monday night in Albany.

The Boomers, who defeated China 66-55 in the first game on Saturday night, led at every break but had to overcome a sluggish start to the second quarter to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

Guard Matthew Dellavedova, looking to shine in the absence of star Patty Mills, finished with 11 points and two clutch free-throws at the death.

The two sides meet again on Wednesday, but Mills will not join his team-mates until they arrive in Melbourne for final London Olympic preparations - a three-match series against Greece later this month.

Mills, who was involved in the NBA playoffs with the San Antonio Spurs, looked to be sorely missed in the opening half.

China had eased to a 13-point lead in the second term and the hosts' shooting had slumped to 30 per cent before they rediscovered their mojo.

The Boomers went on a 14-0 run to end the first half, and were never headed despite some tense moments in the final quarter.

The two sides traded baskets in the dying moments before Aron Baynes delivered a telling lay-up with 32 seconds left on the clock, giving the Boomers a five-point advantage.

A three-pointer from China's Sun Yue, the game's top-scorer with 22 points, ensured more drama but young gun Dellavedova iced the game with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Dellavedova was sent to the line and made both free-throws to put the game out of reach.

Baynes top-scored for Australia with 15 points.

AAP

Tags: basketball, sport, albany-6330, wa, australia, china

First posted June 12, 2012 07:54:35

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Breakers down Crocs to level series

Updated April 05, 2012 23:47:24

The New Zealand Breakers scored a bruising 94-83 win over the Crocodiles in Townsville on Thursday night to send their NBL semi-final series to a deciding third game.

The Breakers were shocked 99-82 in Auckland in game one last Friday by the Crocs, who now need to repeat that effort to move into the championship-deciding series against Gold Coast or Perth.

Veteran CJ Bruton hit the clutch triples to finish with 18 points for the visitors, while centres Gary Wilkinson (14 points, six rebounds) and Alex Pledger (12 points, six rebounds) also had a big impact.

Dillon Boucher was also dominant in the first half before suffering a facial injury in the third quarter.

Townsville's Eddie Gill came to life late to finish with 24 points and five assists, and Michael Cedar scored 15 including a stunning 11-point second-quarter run that brought the Crocs back into the game after they trailed by 12 points.

New Zealand guard Cedric Jackson (14 points, five assists) shook off an ankle injury to get the visitors off to a solid start as he registered five points within a minute.

Townsville hit back through an impressive Todd Blanchfield alley-oop, but Boucher, Pledger, Bruton and rookie Leon Henry came off the bench to spark the Kiwis to a 27-17 quarter-time lead.

Michael and Chris Cedar put on a spectacular double-act in the second term for the Crocs, scoring 16 points between them to close the gap to four.

But eight points from Pledger, often from Boucher's exquisite passes, ensured New Zealand took a 14-point lead into the long break.

The third quarter proved a physical affair as emotions ran high amid a more committed rebounding effort from Townsville.

Boucher left the court with blood flowing from his mouth after a collision with Bruton in the sixth minute.

Consecutive baskets from Luke Schenscher and Peter Crawford, accentuated by a charge foul on Mika Vukona, then sent the crowd into overdrive.

Townsville surged within five points before two enormous triples from Bruton took the wind out of the crowd's sails and restored a double-figure advantage.

The intensity continued in the final quarter, a Gill three-pointer making the score 74-68 as he desperately rallied the home team.

But a tough Jackson fade-away and Daryl Corletto's first two buckets of the game - both long bombs - ended Townsville's hopes.

AAP

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, qld, townsville-4810, australia, new-zealand

First posted April 05, 2012 23:47:24

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Wildcats go one-up in Blaze series

Updated April 01, 2012 21:39:53

Gold Coast stars Adris DeLeon and Anthony Petrie both had big nights but it was not enough to get past the Wildcats as the Blaze went down 85-70 in Perth on Sunday evening.

The home side won the first three quarters and came into the final period with a 17-point advantage which proved far too great for the Blaze to overcome.

DeLeon's 23 points came on an inefficient 8-of-19 shooting whilst Petrie (8-of-17) was little better as league MVP Kevin Lisch poured in 20 of his own on just eight field goal attempts to go along with seven assists.

Lisch had scoring support from team-mates Jesse Wagstaff (16 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Luke Nevill (14, six rebounds).

Gold Coast struggled from long range, making just 7-of-26 from three-point range, and was outscored in the paint as the Wildcats bigs went to work down low.

The Blaze were also left hurting by the Perth defence, giving up eight points from 14 turnovers.

The series now shifts back to the south-east Queensland tourist strip where Gold Coast will look to level up the series on Saturday night.

Tags: sport, basketball, perth-6000, wa, surfers-paradise-4217, australia

First posted April 01, 2012 20:27:15

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Boomers seal 2-0 series win over China

Updated June 28, 2011 08:10:00

Australia downed China 62-57 in Singapore on Sunday to seal their international basketball series 2-0.

The Boomers capitalised on an error-strewn performance by China to add to Friday's narrow 67-65 win in Perth.

Captain David Barlow crashed a series of three-pointers as Australia were on top 32-26 at half-time.

China turned over the ball 17 times in total as they failed to find a way back into the game.

"As a team we're stoked to come out and not only be able to compete at a high level but to be able to beat China, which is such a powerful team, in two games," said Barlow, who was named player of the game.

China did not field ex-NBA star Wang Zhizhi on Sunday and are missing giant Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming due to a long-term foot injury which threatens to end his career.

The games, which serve as a build-up to this year's Asian and Oceania championships, will expand to a three-match series played in Australia, China and an as-yet-unconfirmed Southeast Asian venue next year.

- AFP

Tags: sport, basketball, australia, china, singapore

First posted June 28, 2011 08:03:00

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Mavs hold on to level series

By Adrian Crawford

Updated June 8, 2011 14:55:00

An off night for Dirk Nowitzki was not enough to stop Dallas from tying up its NBA Finals series against Miami with an 86-83 win in Game Four.

Proving that no lead is ever truly safe against the Mavericks, the home side rallied to win from a deficit at the final break for the sixth time in this post-season.

Averaging 11.3 fourth-quarter points per game in the three previous games in the series, Nowitzki still finished strongly despite having woken up on game day with flu-like symptoms and a fever.

The German international forward had 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting, eight of those in the final period including the go-ahead lay-up past Game Three tormentor Udonis Haslem.

"I was going to play the clock down but I saw a little opening there so I just went for it," he said.

"I was able to rip through and go to the right; they were really playing my left which obviously the whole league does, but I was able to rip through and finally finish the lay-up.

"I missed about four or five good looks around the rim today."

That bucket took the score to 84-79 in Dallas' favour but after a Miami time-out, Dwyane Wade answered with a dunk on the drive that made it a one-possession game.

Arguably one of the greatest shooting guards of all time, Wade was as aggressive in attack as he has been all series, finishing with 32 points (13-of-20) and had six rebounds and two blocks.

But the late dunk was his last contribution as Jason Terry knocked down two free throws with six seconds remaining to push the Dallas lead back to three, the hosts holding on to win.

Mike Miller's three-point attempt from 28 feet out to force an extra period was no good as time expired.

A loss would have virtually handed the Heat their second ever title and second over the Mavericks, as no team has ever overcome a 1-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series to win it all.

Having done it all in the Game Three loss, Nowitzki said he was glad to have had help from long-time team-mate Terry, the only other Maverick to have tasted Finals defeat against Miami in 2006.

"I couldn't really finish around the rim; I had a couple of good looks today but no lift," he said.

"The crew was outstanding. I thought Jet [Terry] really took it on himself today in the fourth when we were down nine.

"He made two back-to-back plays (a driving lay-up and a pull-up jumper) to get us back in the game."

Team effort

The rest of Nowitzki's supporting cast was just as good despite a difficult first period that saw both teams allowing no leeway on the defensive end.

All-Defensive second team centre Tyson Chandler had an important 13-point, 16-rebound double-double, nine of those boards coming on the offensive glass where Miami had dominated in the first quarter.

Shawn Marion showed his veteran class, the 33-year-old posting 16 points and four rebounds thanks to some deft spinning footwork in the paint and soft touches from further out.

DeShawn Stevenson, who came off the bench in favour of JJ Barea for the first time this post-season, had the hot hand in the first half with three sweet three-pointers, but could not find his range in the second half and finished with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting.

Again it was a case of Miami's stars doing most of the work, with Chris Bosh turning in another strong performance (24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, six rebounds) to support Wade.

On the other hand there was LeBron James, whose contributions other than scoring (nine rebounds, seven assists) were impressive but only served to highlight his uncharacteristically weak shooting night.

James, chasing his first title after seven seasons and one failed trip to the Finals with Cleveland, scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting.

It was "The King's" first game in single-digit scoring since January 2007.

Wednesday's thriller was yet another nail-biting contest in a series which has been decided by 11 points total across the four games.

Scores were locked at 21-21 after the first period and Miami fought to a 47-45 lead by the half and there were only two points in it with a quarter to go.

The Heat rattled off five unanswered points to start the fourth before Dallas rallied with a 16-4 stretch that stole back the lead for good.

The series remains in Dallas for Game Five on Friday morning (AEST) before returning to Miami for the sixth game and a seventh if necessary.

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted June 8, 2011 14:00:00

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Thunder upset Mavs to tie series

Posted May 21, 2011 16:45:00

The Oklahoma City Thunder, getting a tremendous boost from their bench, beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-100 to level the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals at 1-1.

Kevin Durant, the NBA scoring leader the last two years, scored 24 points to lead the Thunder in scoring but was supported by a mighty effort from the reserves topped by guard James Harden's 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

"We have a lot of confidence in James," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

"He made plays. He made big basketball plays. He's a spot up shooter, he's a penetrator, he's a playmaker. He's a tremendous player."

The Oklahoma back-ups, outscored by 31 points by Maverick reserves in Game One, manned the floor throughout the fourth quarter alongside Durant and combined to score 50 points in the game.

Harden gave Oklahoma City the lead going into the final period by producing a four-point play at the end of the third quarter when the guard drained a three-pointer and was fouled in the process. After sinking the free throw, the Thunder led 77-76.

A long jumper by Harden padded the lead to 102-92 with 3:15 left, and Oklahoma City withstood a furious fight-back led by Dirk Nowitzki, who had been quieted by some heavy double-team defensive pressure following his Game One eruption for 48 points.

Nowitzki, the seven-foot (2.13m) German jump shooter, scored 16 fourth-quarter points to finish with 29.

"They wanted it more and came out swinging," Nowitzki said after Dallas lost its first home playoff game of this postseason.

Said Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle: "They attacked us, got us back on our heels. I don't remember a game we've won giving up 56 per cent shooting. Give them credit. They played an attacking, desperate game. Their bench was dominant."

The Mavericks led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter before Durant changed the momentum with a thunderous, rim-rattling dunk over Dallas centre Brendan Hayward.

Oklahoma City finished the first quarter trailing 31-26 and surged into a 59-57 at the intermission.

Durant praised the work of the reserves.

"We had a good chemistry going and the coach made a great decision to stick with it," he said.

"They really won the game tonight."

Brooks sat talented starting guard Russell Westbrook, who had scored 18 points, for the entire fourth quarter after he made a turnover at the end of the third quarter and a foul and then fumed on the bench.

Eric Maynor took over for Westbrook and finished with 13 points.

"I thought Eric did a good job," coach Brooks said.

"Russell is an incredible player, our starting point guard. It was his time to come out and I stuck with Eric. He did a great job handling the decisions on the court."

The series now shifts to Oklahoma City for Game Three.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

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James helps Heat to level series

Updated May 19, 2011 15:41:00

The Miami Heat rebounded from a blowout loss in Game One to beat the Chicago Bulls 85-75 on Wednesday and level the Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece.

"Whatever it takes," said Heat star LeBron James, who finished with 29 points.

"This is the conference finals and these are two great defensive teams. But you have to be patient... keep working the offence."

Dwyane Wade added 24 points for the Heat, who managed to steal home-court advantage from the Bulls as the series now switches to Miami.

James, who has been fighting a cold this week, said he was relieved to get the win but was also relishing the chance to go home and rest up.

"Do you hear my voice?" he asked.

"I put it all on line tonight. I am glad I got a few days to get back down to the great weather we got in Miami and get over it (cold)."

The Heat recovered down the stretch Wednesday to pull even after surrendering an 11-point lead earlier in the contest.

James drained a three pointer in the fourth to put the Heat in front for good, at 76-73.

He scored nine points in the final five minutes and also grabbed 10 rebounds as Miami outrebounded Chicago 45-41.

"The series has just started," James said.

"It's 1-1. We're excited that we were able to come here and get a win. But it's just started."

The Bulls ended Game One on a 46-24 run en route to winning the contest 103-82. The Heat limited them to just two points in the final seven minutes in Game Two.

James also grabbed 10 rebounds while Wade finished with nine rebounds for the Heat, who host Sunday's game three. Chris Bosh scored 10 points.

Udonis Haslem came off the bench to score 13 points for Miami, which defeated the Bulls for the first time this season.

"We got the one that we needed," Wade said.

"Now, we go home and we've got to take care of business. This team right here is like us. They can win at home and on the road."

Derrick Rose scored 21 points but had only two in the fourth quarter for the Bulls.

Luol Deng added 13 but had just four after the opening period. Rose and Deng were the only Chicago players to finish in double figures.

Joakim Noah finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Taj Gibson came on strong in the final quarter, scoring all of his eight points.

Carlos Boozer struggled Wednesday, sitting out the final quarter after recording seven points and eight boards.

- AFP

Tags: sport, basketball, united-states

First posted May 19, 2011 15:26:00

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