Co-host Japan's bid to reach the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup ended Tuesday with a 109-89 loss to heavyweight Australia. Looking to emulate Sunday's thrilling 98-88 comeback win over Finland, world No. 36 Japan ran into a brick wall in the form of No. 3 Australia at Okinawa Arena. Japan's Yuta Watanabe dribbles the ball during a FIBA Basketball World Cup Group E game against Australia at Okinawa Arena in Okinawa, southern Japan, on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Head coach Brian Goorjian's Olympic bronze medal-winning team combined a powerful inside presence with accurate outside shooting to outgun a Japanese side that started promisingly but could not keep pace in the must-win game for both teams.

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