Basketball: Tall Blacks win 2nd world championship game

New Zealand beat Venezuela 98-85 in their second game of the world basketball championships in Indianapolis today.

New Zealand trailed at the end of the first quarter 29-23, but worked hard to be just one point behind, 48-47, at halftime.

The Tall Blacks then drew steadily ahead to lead by 11 points, 72-61, at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, the New Zealanders added another 26 points to triumph over Venezuela, who boasted Houston Rockets veteran Oscar Torres and former Rocket Carl Herrera in their line-up.

It was the Tall Blacks' second win from two games at the championships so far, after they came from behind to upset Russia 90-81 yesterday in their opening game.

New Zealand were down by 17 points against Russia, before overcoming the team who were silver medallists at the last two championships and in the top three in every world championship since 1963.

New Zealand's final group game is against highly-rated Argentina on Sunday morning (NZT).

Results from day two of the 14th world basketball championships:

Group A:

Spain 71 Yugoslavia 69

Angola 84 Canada 74

Group B:

Brazil 88 Turkey 86

Puerto Rico 99 Lebanon 77

Group C:

China 96 Algeria 82

United States 104 Germany 87

Group D:

NEW ZEALAND 98 Venezuela 85

Argentina 100 Russia 81


- NZPA