In a commanding display, Brazil triumphed over Iran with a 100-59 victory in the opening game of Group G, setting the tone for their FIBA World Cup journey.
Brazil didn’t hold back; there was no intention of approaching the game casually. Right from the first minute, the “Seleção” played with determination, aiming to establish a substantial lead early on and settle the outcome well before the final buzzer.
And they succeeded. Bruno Caboclo opened the match impressively, followed by Vitor Benite and Yago dos Santos, securing a 32-point advantage for Brazil at halftime.
When you google "assist," Marcelinho's photo shows up. 💰
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 26, 2023
Parabéns on making it 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ World Cup dimes, legend. 🇧🇷#FIBAWC x #WinForBrasil pic.twitter.com/yoqwJ2Oy0s
However, a major shock hit the “Seleção” during the third quarter. Raul Neto slipped and fell to the court in pain, remaining motionless until being carried off on a stretcher. His teammates were visibly affected by the incident, and the remainder of the game unfolded under its emotional shadow. Despite the convincing victory being secured after the first quarter, Neto’s injury might significantly diminish Brazil’s prospects in the tournament if he is not ready to return.
The top scorers for Brazil were Caboclo and Dos Santos, with 16 and 14 points respectively. For Iran, Matin Aghajanpour led with 11 points, followed by Hamed Haddadi with 10 points.
In the upcoming round, Brazil will face Spain, while Iran is set to take on Ivory Coast.