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AAP
AAP
Shayne Hope

Tough Paris selection calls loom as Boomers beat China

Jock Landale had a game-high 19 points in the Boomers' big win over China in Melbourne. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Coach Brian Goorjian faces a tough task to cut his Paris Olympics roster down to a dozen players after the Boomers' 91-58 thrashing of China in their final warm-up game on home soil.

Jock Landale (19 points, nine rebounds) stood out and Chris Goulding (12 points) took his shots off the bench in a one-sided affair at Melbourne's John Cain Arena on Thursday night.

Josh Giddey was another prominent figure with 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in his home city, and Joe Ingles pressed his claims for a fifth Games appearance with a strong second-half display.

The blowout result followed a comfortable 107-87 Boomers victory in game one of the series, which served as a final chance for fringe players to make their selection pitches.

Goorjian kept his cards close to his chest, but confirmed agonising roster decisions would be made swiftly.

"Whatever comes out of this, there's going to be a lot of people who want to put a bullet in my head," Goorjian told reporters post-game.

"There's a no-win here, but I've got a great staff and I feel really good that we're going to come into this and make the right decisions and put the best on the floor.

"This is the Olympics and I'm going to be real happy to move forward from here."

Brian Goorjian.
Brian Goorjian ponders his next move during the Boomers' game-two win. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A core group of Australian NBA players appear certain to be on the plane to Paris: Patty Mills, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Matisse Thybulle, Dyson Daniels, Duop Reath, Giddey and Landale.

NBA veteran Ingles remains in the mix after confirming his trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves on a one-year deal.

The 36-year-old sat out the first half against China and finished with four points and four assists in 16 minutes, steadying the offence when needed.

"It sucks for 'Goorj' at this point - to have to make those decisions is not easy," Ingles told reporters post-game.

"There's going to be great players that miss out and great players that are in.

"It can be an anxious, nervous situation when you're fighting for your lives and there's obviously a lot of guys that could make this team.

"But for the playing group, the week has been awesome."

Goorjian spread court time among his players and left Reath on the bench to allow Will Magnay and Nick Kay to show their wares.

Green and Exum featured for the first time in green-and-gold since playing for the Dallas Mavericks in last month's NBA Finals, while Landale also returned to action.

Dante Exum.
Dante Exum drives to the basket at John Cain Arena. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Poor shooting at both ends led to a low-scoring first half, with the Boomers gradually improving their percentages to lead 38-24 at the main break.

Tempers briefly boiled over when China's Jiahao Yu raised an arm and pushed Magnay to the floor, aggravating several Boomers during the third quarter.

But the visitors otherwise showed little fight in a one-sided affair, and were forced into 28 turnovers.

China's 216cm NBA prospect Hansen Yang wowed the crowd with some huge rejections.

He finished with a game-high four blocks, 10 rebounds, seven points and three assists - as well as six turnovers.

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