Basketball: Tall Blacks outclass Hong Kong in Rotorua

  • 29/06/2018

The Tall Blacks cruised past Hong Kong in their FIBA World Cup qualifier in Rotorua on Thursday night.

Six players reached double figures in a commanding 124-65 win in front of a near-capacity crowd at Energy Events Centre.

New Zealand dominated offensively, shooting 65 percent from the field, while getting 38 assists on 46 shots made, pleasing coach Paul Henare.

"We were trying to implement some new things offensively and to run it against someone other than ourselves was good.

"We've had guys who haven't played competitive hoops for a few months - those guys who aren't in season right now - and it was vital for them to get some game wind in the lungs.

"In that respect, it was good to tick those things off."

Next up for the Tall Blacks is a showdown against China at Auckland's Spark Arena on Sunday. China lost to South Korea 82-74 in Shenzhen on Thursday night, so they will be determined to bounce back.

On top of that, China basketball royalty will be in attendance on Sunday, as former Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming will watch from the stands.

Henare said his players needed to make small adjustments to compete with China in the top-of-the-table clash.

"There's definitely stuff we can work on, on the defensive end. A few slips, but we did pick it up a little bit in the second half."

Newshub.

For more on this story, tune into Newshub @ 6pm on Three.