New Zealand opened its FIBA Asia Cup campaign with a commanding 100-78 victory over Iraq on August 5, 2025. The Tall Blacks used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from a determined Iraqi side, underlining their status as one of the tournament favorites. New Zealand established an early rhythm with efficient three-point shooting, but Iraq stayed resilient through the first half. After the break, New Zealand's defensive intensity increased, creating turnovers that led to easy fast-break points and a series of runs that broke the game open. The balanced scoring attack from New Zealand proved too much, as they shared the ball effectively to find open shooters. This match result immediately placed New Zealand at the top of their group in the Asia Cup standings, sending a strong message to other contenders. Iraq's coach would have praised his team's fight while acknowledging the gap in execution against a top Oceanic power.