“To be honest,[a medal] is everything to us,” he said.

“It would mean a lot to Australian basketball,to Australian sport. We’ve been at this for a long time,many teams have gone close.

“There are so many guys who have been a part of this program for the past 15 years,going on that long. To have the pain of tournaments where it hasn’t gone our way,we’re focused,we’ve got one goal and that’s to try to win a gold medal. We’re going to Tokyo to try to do that.”

Australian assistant coach Adam Caporn said his side’s defensive effort was the most pleasing aspect of the performance.

“I’m really proud of the effort we’re putting on the defensive end,scrambling,helping each other out,” Caporn told ESPN.

“I think our bigs have done a great job on the pick and roll and containing their guys.

“We want to keep building,refining our roles. It’s a really short sprint to the first game[in Tokyo] and we’re constantly adding things.

“We’re excited with how it’s going.”

The Boomers led by 13 points by the end of the opening quarter,by which time Nigeria coach Mike Brown knew his team had been given a big wake-up call.

“We’re not defending,” Brown said. “You got to give these guys credit though,they are one of the best teams in the world.

“They know they are good,they know they are going to have a shot at gold,they are able to rest Patty Mills,Dellavedova and Baynes tonight because they know they are that good and that deep.”

Josh Giddey won’t play in Tokyo,but the NBL’s rookie of the year showed why he is likely to be one of the NBA draft picks after bagging 14 points,four rebounds and three assists.

“[We were without] four big pieces for us,but it gives the other guys an opportunity to play and step up,” Giddey said.

“It’s a lot of fun,being around the guys we’ve got,being able to compete against the competition that we do in every practice.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s good being around the group and getting an early feel for the Boomers culture. I’m loving being around the guys and I’ll be cheering them on from home.”

The Boomers can expect a much sterner test in their final hit-out,a rematch against Team USA on Saturday. Earlier on Wednesday Gregg Popovich’s team recorded a 108-80 win over Argentina.

“In the game against Australia,we competed well,rebounded,played D,ran the floor at good pace for a half and then it dissipated through the second half,” Popovich said.

“Tonight I thought we maintained that pretty much throughout the game.”

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