Mavs.com will supply periodic updates on the Mavericks in the FIBA World Cup that runs through Sept. 10.
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The Mavericks are rolling in the FIBA World Cup with all four players who are participating likely to move on with high seedings in the second round of the Group phase of the tournament taking place in the Far East.
Luka Dončić has Slovenia poised to be the No. 1 team coming out of Group F. The Slovenians are 2-0 after an 88-67 rout of Georgia on Monday morning at Okinawa, Japan. The Mavericks’ superstar point guard has averaged 35.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6 assists per game.
He became just the fourth player in the 2000s to post back-to-back 30-point games in World Cup play, joining Luis Scola, Kevin Durant and Larry Ayuso. He had 34 points in an 88-67 rout of Georgia on Monday morning, following 37 points in the opening blowout of Venezuela.
The Slovenians finish group play on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. (Dallas time) against Cape Verde. A win will keep Slovenia as the only undefeated team coming out of Group F and providing the most advantageous road to the quarterfinals, which begin on Sept. 5.
The World Cup concludes on Sept. 10.
Assuming the Slovenians take care of business against Cape Verde, Dončić will have Maverick company in the next round as Canada already has clinched a spot in the top 16 moving forward. Center Dwight Powell has averaged 7.5 points and 3 rebounds in the Canadians’ first two victories, which came against France and Lebanon.
Canada has a roster stacked with numerous NBA players highlighted by All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They beat France by 30 points and Lebanon by 55 and will play Latvia, led by former Maverick Davis Bertans, to see who claims the top seed from Group H.
The second round of group play will take the top 16 teams from the first round of Group play and pare them down to the top eight who will participate in the quarterfinals. Teams 17 through 32 will play for classifications in future tournaments.
While Slovenia and Canada are prime contenders, less certain (but still likely) for an appearance in the top 16 of the second round is Australia, which features Mavs’ guards Josh Green and Dante Exum.
The Aussies must beat Japan on Tuesday to guarantee them a spot in the second round of Group play. They are heavily favored to do so.
Exum has been solid in the first two games, averaging 9.5 points, 3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Green has averaged 6 points and 2 rebounds as the national team is 1-1 with a win over Finland and a loss to Germany.
Games are being played in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The U.S. and Canada are two of the favorites for the gold medal, along with Slovenia, defending champion Spain, Australia, Serbia and France, although No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft Victor Wembanyama is not playing.
Twitter: @ESefko
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