Men's basketball team taking on Saudi Arabia to begin Asian Games

The men's basketball team will kick off its Asian Games tournament in Japan on Thursday, marking the first official action for Korea in the continental competition. The team is aiming for its first gold medal in 12 years, with head coach Nikolajs Mazurs leading the squad. Korea's opening match will be against Saudi Arabia in Group A, with the game scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya.

The first day of competition comes nine days before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, with preliminary games for team sports like basketball, football, and volleyball typically taking place in the days leading up to the opening ceremony. Following their match against Saudi Arabia, Korea will face Indonesia at 4 p.m. on Friday and the host country Japan at 7 p.m. on Sunday, all games held at the same Nagoya venue.

The Asian Games feature 12 nations divided into three groups of four. The top two teams from each group, as well as the two best third-place teams, advance to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals are set for the following Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on September 18. The bronze medal game and gold medal game are scheduled for September 20, the day after the opening ceremony.