Lauri Markkanen and Finland broke through and notched their first win at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Thursday’s games featured the countries whose teams did not qualify for the 2nd Round. The outcomes of these Classification Games, however, do begin to sort and cement their respective FIBA world rankings coming out of this World Cup. It’s an important part in establishing the basketball world’s new pecking order. Strong finishes to the tournament can serve as a hint of an up-and-coming national team’s staying power, just as it did for Spain in the 1980s, Argentina in the 1990s, and France and Slovenia at the turn of the 2010s.
Here’s a look at who stood out on that stage in Thursday’s Classification Games of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
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Lauri Markkanen, Finland
It was a rough go for Markkanen and winless Finland in the 1st round, but both he and his country bounced back emphatically in their 100-77 victory over Cape Verde. The Utah Jazz All-Star poured in 34 points on just 19 shot attempts and 26 minutes, with Finland outscoring Cape Verde by the exact margin of victory while Markkanen was on the floor. It’s a solid step for the “The Wolf Pack,” which is playing in just its second FIBA World Cup in national team history.
Lauri earns TCL Player of the Game after scoring 34 and leading Finland to their first victory! #FIBAWC x #WinForFinland I #InspireGreatness pic.twitter.com/Z3grc1hqLl
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) August 31, 2023
Pako Cruz and Fabian Jaimes, Mexico
Like Finland, Mexico did not score a victory in the opening round. Cruz and Jaimes helped snap that streak, the former with outside shooting, the latter with all-around excellence. Cruz, the 33-year-old guard and FIBA veteran, drained six of his nine attempts from 3-point range en route to a team-high 27 points. Jaimes, meanwhile, stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Mexico’s 108-100 victory over New Zealand was its first in the FIBA World Cup since the country’s last appearance in 2014, where it finished 14th overall.
Are we getting behind 'Pako Cruzday'?
Mexico take down the Tall Blacks for their first of #FIBAWC 2023 behind Pako Cruz's 27 points. pic.twitter.com/9Cd7b3QgV3
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) August 31, 2023
Makoto Hiejima and Yuta Watanabe, Japan
A tough group draw in the 1st Round did Japan no favors, but that didn’t deter them from one of the most thrilling comebacks in World Cup history on Thursday. Venezuela led by as much as 15 in the third quarter before Hiejima, a former Japanese league MVP, caught fire. The 33-year-old guard scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, finishing a sparkling 8-for-12 overall and 6-for-7 from 3-point range. Watanabe, signed by the Phoenix Suns during the NBA offseason, added 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting to go with eight rebounds and two blocks. The victory is Japan’s first in the World Cup since 2006.
HIEJIMA TOOK OVER THE 4QT, SCORED 17PTS #FIBAWC x #WinForJapan I #AkatsukiJapan pic.twitter.com/brsbA8aIJf
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) August 31, 2023
Amir Saoud and Omari Spellman, Lebanon
A brutal 1st round draw left Lebanon winless, but its dynamic guard-forward duo of Saoud and Spellman ensured the Mediterranean country did not stay that way. Saoud, a long-time Lebanese league veteran, ran the offense that shot 50% overall and from beyond the arc. Individually, he amassed 29 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Spellman, a first-round NBA draft pick in 2018, added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists. The duo combined to shoot 11-for-22 from 3-point range in Lebanon’s first FIBA World Cup win since 2010.
Amir Saoud splashes it home for this #TissotBuzzerBeater to end the first half! #FIBAWC x #WinForLebanon pic.twitter.com/W9i3xY6vs8
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (@FIBAWC) August 31, 2023
Carlik Jones, South Sudan
After leading South Sudan to its first ever World Cup win three days ago, Jones nearly broke another barrier with the first triple-double in the tournament’s history. The 25-year-old Chicago Bulls guard came one rebound shy in the country’s 87-68 win over the Philippines, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists. South Sudan outscored its opponent by 30 with Jones on the floor. Only 12 years old as a national team, the “Bright Stars” are well on their way to an encouraging final World Cup ranking.
On the verge of making history
Carlik Jones was 1 REB shy of the first triple-double ever in Men’s #FIBAWC history
17 PTS
✊ 9 REB
14 AST pic.twitter.com/nUi6P1WfgM— FIBA (@FIBA) August 31, 2023
