EUROBASKET QUALIFIERS

Italy opened their EuroBasket qualifying campaign with an easy 97-45 win over Portugal.

Pietro Aradori led the way with 21 points while Angelo Gigli added 14 with seven rebounds.

Pietro Aradori masterminded Italy's offensive effort against Portugal

Italy wasted no time in taking complete control of the game, with Aradori's jump-shot making it 11-2 barely three minutes into the game and a three from Luigi Datome stretching it to 18-2 midway through the first quarter.

They ended the period 24-7 to the good and only continued to pull clear.

A big three from Aradori midway through the second quarter made it 40-12 and two free throws from Marco Cusin made it 50-20 at half-time.

Aradori had back-to-back threes early in the third quarter that made it 58-22 before Italy turned to their bench, the win more than safe.

Even then, they continued to lay it on thick, scoring the final six points of the quarter as Stefano Mancinelli hit a three before Danilo Gallinari's dunk made it 75-29.

Mancinelli and Giuseppe Poeta had 11 points each for Italy, with Gallinari collecting 10.

There was little to cheer for Portugal, with none of their players reaching double figures. Joao Gomes finished with nine and eight rebounds.