Slovenia and NBA megastar Luka Doncic have revenge on their agenda at the FIBA World Cup on Friday night (10.10pm AEST) as they face the Boomers — the team that beat them in the Tokyo Olympics’ bronze medal match.
Australia, led by a brilliant Patty Mills, won the historic encounter two years ago 107-93, ensuring this golden Boomers generation has an Olympic medal.
The Boomers’ pleasure was Slovenia’s pain, particularly for an injured Doncic who was locked down by the Australians.
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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Slovenia, live scoreboard, updates, video
Once again, the stakes are brutally high on Friday.
By virtue of an early loss to Germany, the Boomers are fighting to stay alive at the World Cup having already survived one sudden death showdown by beating Japan on Tuesday.
Giddey bags double-double against Japan | 00:36
Slovenia offers a far sterner test, however, having notched three huge wins over Venezuela, Georgia and Cape Verde in its opening three matches.
And making matters worse is that the Olympics defeat to the Boomers is still fresh in the mind for a potentially dangerous Slovenia.
“We really didn’t play well in that game against Australia,” Doncic said before the match. “But we are prepared for it, that’s why we are here, to play such matches.
“They (Australia) are a very good team, great players.
“They play tough, it will be a very difficult match.”
Doncic has averaged 30 points at the World Cup from 31.2 minutes on the floor as well as eight rebounds and seven assists.
“He’s a mastermind,” Mills told ESPN before the game. “His ability to control the tempo and pace is what he’s good at.
“So for us we’ve just got to make it uncomfortable for him and get up and down the floor as quick as we can. It’s going to be 40 minutes of every possession counts.”
Meanwhile, Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said Doncic is “as good as it gets.”
“I think he just does it all,” he told ESPN. “A huge thing is tempo. He’s just, in any situation, seems controlled and in his pace.
“Then he’s just absolutely skilled in every aspect of the game.”
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