Tall Blacks Deliver Fourth Quarter Surge to Defeat Iraq in FIBA Asia Cup Opener

Under the sweltering heat of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Tall Blacks delivered a scorching fourth quarter performance that secured a 100-78 victory against Iraq in their opening match of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.

The game was played in temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius, a challenge that seemed to only sharpen the focus of the New Zealand team. Early on, the Tall Blacks' guards, led by Mojave King, Taylor Britt, and Flynn Cameron, set the tone with a blistering start. Their combined efforts in the first quarter saw the team score the first 11 points of the game, and an impressive four-minute stretch in which Iraq managed no points at all, opening a 24-16 lead by the end of the first quarter.

However, the second quarter brought a test of resilience as Iraq mounted a strong comeback. Iraqi sharpshooter Ahmed Abdul scored five consecutive points, bringing his team back into the game and even nudging them ahead just before halftime. Despite this, the Tall Blacks showed their character, fighting hard in the third quarter, with Britt scoring seven straight points to take a narrow two-point lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter was a masterclass in dominance. As turnovers mounted for Iraq, the Tall Blacks seized the opportunity to outscore their opponents 37-17 in the final quarter, sealing the victory with a commanding display of teamwork and intensity.

Coach Judd Flavell was proud of the team's second-half performance, acknowledging the effort of both sides. 'I first wanted to acknowledge Iraq and the way that they came out and played,' he said. 'We were half a step late, our defence wasn't good enough. That gave them some good looks from the outside.' He added that the team's ability to maintain a high pace in the fourth quarter was the key to their success.

Taylor Britt echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for consistent intensity from the start of the game. 'I think we responded quite well, especially in that fourth quarter,' he said. 'Just putting out that level of intensity... that needs to be there from the first quarter of the game and going forward.'

The Tall Blacks will now face the Philippines in their next match, which is scheduled for the early hours of Friday morning.

Final scores: Tall Blacks 100 (Britt 19p, 7r, 4a, King 18p, Davison 14p, 7r) defeat Iraq 78 (Ahmed Abdul 19p, Hammoodi 15p).

Quarter summaries: Q1: 24-16, HT: 42-43, Q3: 63-61, FT: 100-78.