Australia minus Bogut cruise past China

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Australia gave Andrew Bogut the afternoon off and still hammered China, 93-68, to clinch a top-four spot in Group A and a place in the Quarter-Finals.

Less than two days after their 10-point defeat to the USA, the Boomers broke open a close game midway through the second quarter and pulled away for a comfortable victory. 

Australia coach Andrej Lemanis, with a game against 2015 FIBA Americas Championship winners Venezuela still to come, improved to 3-1 with the triumph while reigning FIBA Asia champions China slumped to 0-4.

"I think we're in a good place," Australia coach Andrej Lemanis said. "We can go big, we can go little, we run well. But the thing is right now defense is what's winning us basketball games and that's very pleasing because that can be consistent."

Turning Point: Led by Yi Jianlian, who had 14 of his 20 points in the first half, the Chinese only trailed 31-29 midway through the second quarter after a dunk by the former NBA player. Australia's defense put the clamps on Gong Luming's side and scored seven unanswered points.

Stats Don't Lie: Cameron Bairstow had 7 of his team-high 17 points and 5 of his team's 17 rebounds in the first half while Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin, China's players taken in the second round of this summer's NBA Draft, combined for 5 points and 2rbs in the first two quarters. Bairstow ended up a rebound shy of a double-double.

Hero: Australia coach Andrej Lemanis, who wisely sat Bogut down for a breather and got players like Brock Motum, Damian Martin and Kevin Lisch minutes that will keep them sharp.

Bottom Line: Australia had some early resistance but this outcome was never in doubt. China are struggling to compete at an an Olympic Games for the second time in a row and with four losses have no chance of advancing to the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA