Basketball On The Internet.

MITCH McCarron last night celebrated his 30th birthday with a game opening triple, then a sweet drive as Australia ultimately weathered every challenge and rolled out a 76-69 FIBA World Cup qualifying win over China at a loud and at times raucous John Cain Arena.

The Adelaide 36ers captain finished the win with 13 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, along with six steals, two rebounds and two assists.

Newly-annointed Boomers captain Matthew Dellavedova was at his very best, with an equal game-high 16 points that included 4-of-6 threes, seven rebounds and four assists, additional terrific moments also provided by Jack McVeigh (11 points, 2-of-3 threes) and Jack White (10 points), his third quarter triple giving Australia its biggest buffer at 53-37.

After an expectedly tight first period, the Boomers broke away in the second as they started to find some offensive sync to go with their generally focused defensive work.

McVeigh sticking a pressured and unorthodox 3-pointer at the end of the shot-clock was memorable as the Aussies grafted a 14-point lead before a late revival dragged China back to 34-43 by halftime.

The lead ballooned to 16 in the third before South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL centre Qi Zhou started to get rolling for China. He finished the game with a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double and by early in the last, scores had levelled.

At 62-62 and again at 64-64, China had its chances before Dellavedova took control of proceedings, Sam Froling finished off some slick moves and the Boomers were heading into tonight's match with Japan on a roll.

Thon Maker looked very much in need of the run and will get better but the sooner Todd Blanchfield ditches that side-on one-handed floater shot (25 per cent from the floor) he seems to believe is special, the better. The affectation now is afflicting his 3-pointer by getting him side-on a lot of the time. When he's square, it's there. 

AUSTRALIA BOOMERS 76 (Dellavedova 16, McCarron 13, McVeigh 11, White 10; Froling, Dellavedova 7 rebs; White, Dellavedova 4 assts) d CHINA 69 (Zhou 16, Gu, Guo 12; Zhou 17 rebs; Zhao 3 assts) at John Cain Arena.

WHITE OUT: Jack White had a big game, Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski sending him a pre-match boost.