FIBA World Cup roundup (Aug. 31): Serbia cruises behind Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jokic

The 2019 FIBA World Cup is under way in China, with opening round play running from Aug. 31-Sept. 5. While we’ll be closely tracking the U.S. Men’s National Team, here’s a quick look at other action from FIBA World Cup play on Aug. 31.

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Serbia 105, Angola 59

Kings swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic put on a show Saturday, pouring in a game-high 24 points to help Serbia cruise past Angola in the opener of the FIBA World Cup 2019. Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic added 14 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench while Mavericks big man Boban Marjanovic added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Carlos Morais and Leonel Paulo combined for 25 points to lead Angola.

Argentina 95, South Korea 69

Nicolas Laprovittola scored 17 points and former NBA player Luis Scola added 15 to help Argentina rout South Korea to start Group B play. Spain connected on 17 3-pointers with Laprovittola hitting five.

Ra Guna paced South Korea with a game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds.

Spain 101, Tunisia 62

Suns point guard Ricky Rubio had 17 points and nine assists while Nuggets forward Juan Hernangomez hadded 13 to help Spain knock off Tunisia in Group C play. Raptors big man Marc Gasol chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

Former NBA player Salah Mejri led Tunisia with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Italy 108, Philippines 62

Amedeo Della Valle and Luigi Datome each scored 17 points and Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari added 16 as Italy cruised to a Group D victory over the Philippines. It was Italy’s first FIBA World Cup appearance in more than a decade.

Former NBA player Andray Blatche and Jaymar Perez led the Philippines with 15 points each.

Poland 80, Venezuela 69

Behind Michal Sokolowski’s 16 points and nine rebounds on 7-for-9 shooting, Poland collected its first win on the world stage in 52 years. Pedro Chourio paced Venezuela with 15 points.

Poland’s last World Cup victory came on June 10, 1967 against Uruguay.

Russia 82, Nigeria 77

Russia erased a late eight-point deficit to secure a big victory to start Group B play. Mikhail Kulagin led Russia with 16 points while Andrey Vorontsevich added 14.

Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie paced Nigeria with 18 points.

Puerto Rico 83, Iran 81

David Huertas scored a game-high 34 points and Gary Browne added 10 to help Puerto Rico edge Iran in Group C play.

Hamed Haddadi paced Iran with 22 points and 16 rebounds while Behnam Yakhchalidehkordi also scored 22.

China 70, Côte d’Ivoire 55

Former NBA player Yi Jianlian had 19 points and eight rebounds and Guo Ailun added 17 and nine assists to help host country China open Group A play with a victory over Ivory Coast.

Guy Landry Edi led Côte d’Ivoire with 10 points.