Paul's Masterclass Lifts Australia Past Türkiye
Luke Paul delivered a standout performance, recording a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, to guide Australia to a 77-69 victory over Türkiye at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Australia established a commanding 17-point lead by halftime, 49-32, after a dominant first quarter that saw them outscore Türkiye by 18. While Türkiye mounted a comeback, cutting the deficit to seven entering the final period, Australia held firm. Türkiye, spurred by Omer Kutluay's game-high 32 points and 27 points from their bench, showed grit but couldn't overcome Australia's consistent effort. Yahya Basaran also posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Australia, complemented by John Aryang's 11 points and 3 steals. The Aussies limited Türkiye to just 36% shooting from the field (26/72) while outrebounding them 41-34. This win serves as a significant statement of intent for Australia in the tournament.