Basketball World Cup: Slovenia Outplays Australia and Improves to 4-0

Slovenia's Aleksej Nikolic defends Australia's Patty Mills in a 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup second-round game on September 1 at Okinawa Arena. (Issei Kato/REUTERS)

OKINAWA CITY ― Slovenia opened the fourth quarter with a 15-4 run in a FIBA Basketball World Cup second-round game and clamped down on Australia's potent offense to earn a 91-80 victory.

Luka Doncic led Slovenia with 19 points and had seven rebounds and six assists. He had six turnovers and was whistled for his fourth foul late in the third quarter. Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic gave Doncic a rest with 2:25 to play in the third in order to not risk having his superstar foul out with so much time remaining. Slovenia was ahead 62-53 when Doncic left the game.

Doncic, a four-time NBA All-Star, was on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter. He returned to the game with 7 minutes remaining. Slovenia led 73-64 at that point.

Mike Tobey added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Slovenia, which improved to 4-0 at the Basketball World Cup. Point guard Klemen Prepelic chipped in with 11 points and shooting guard Gregor Hrovat poured in 10. Jakob Cebasek and Aleksej Nikolic scored nine apiece.

Eight Slovenia players made at least one 3-pointer and the team finished 13-for-42 from beyond the arc.

For Australia, Josh Giddey had 17 of his 25 points in the second half along with eight rebounds and four assists. Fellow NBA player Patty Mills had a 17-point outing but was held to three points in the final two periods. Teammates Dante Exum and Josh Green finished with 13 and eight points, respectively.

Slovenia Overcomes Doncic's Foul Trouble

Looking back at the game, Doncic affirmed his faith in his teammates, saying he trusts them to make plays, including when he's not on the floor.

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