NZ will really rue that one quarter (if it was even that) against Brazil when things turned to custard. I know sport isn't played on "ifs", but if they win that, they presumably make it through without having to beat Greece tonight.

They can beat Greece, but would need to be perfect or near-perfect. The margin of error is a lot smaller for a team like NZ. They basically need to reduce turnovers, shoot well, rebound well and their rotations/subs need to be expertly timed.

New Zealand lose, and Australia qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the best performed team at this World Cup from Oceania.

Australia really do need to beat Lithuania if they wish to advance to the quarterfinals and give themselves a god shot at medalling. I run through the draw for the Boomers below:

Upcoming Lithuania game could decide Boomers' fate at FIBA World Cup

Anon #202 Wouldn't it just be easier to get the World Cup app?

Turkey goooone...….sack their coach.

Poor Turkey

What a hangover from the US choke.

Webster playing like a god

Yeah, god mode not beast mode.

The English commentator during GRE-NZL just gave the NBL massive credit.

He is right. That is basically an NBL team taking it up to Greece!

2020 Olympics here we come.

Both those commentators in the NZ game were excellent.

Eagles won
Boomers won
NZ Lost

Life doesn't get much better

Tough pool with Greece & Brazil but NZ can hold their heads up.
Losing by 8 & 6 is respectable to quality opponents.
Hopefully the Boomers can keep rolling.

Tall blacks looked good when you consider they have NBL bench players such as Kenny, Loe, Pledger, Ngatai and Ili who will come off United's bench.

Yeah Tall Blacks gave a great effort. Hopefully they can do well in classification.

Was good to see Abercrombie have a good game at last too.

Corey Webster has to get at least a little NBA interest doesn't he?

NZ were more in the group of death than we were especially after most of Canada's NBA players dropped out.

I think its fair to say Canada had a harder road that NZ. Both us and Lithuania are proven at international level, where as Greece and Brazil have been good at times in the past, but lack consistency.

I think its fair to say Canada had a harder road that NZ. Both us and Lithuania are proven at international level, where as Greece and Brazil have been good at times in the past, but lack consistency.

It's interesting that teams like Philippines, Korea and Japan all have a naturalised player on their team. China don't have any.

I think the reason might be related to China not allowing dual citizenship.

Day 7, but continue to post here.

China defeated Korea in a close finish. This is significant for Olympic qualification. China with their 2nd win, but I believe this still isn't a guarantee to get that best ranking in Asia.

The final world cup ranking depends on their *placing* within each group of the classification round, not necessarily wins. Currently Iran and China are both placed 2nd in their respective groups. I can't find any clear information about how they are ranked from there, but I assume it is based on wins then points differential.

China will play Nigeria next. Iran will play Philippines.

So if Iran beat the Philippines as expected, and China loses to Nigeria, they will both finish second in their group and Iran could get that automatic Olympics birth from points differential. Although knowing FIBA, they might obscure the final placings system to somehow let China into the Olympics anyway.

I was wondering the same thing and found the official regulations but the link is broken. FIBA are either corrupt or incompetent. Probably both.