Andrew Bogut
Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) dunks the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the fourth quarter in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. REUTERS/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Australian centre Andrew Bogut was sidelined in the Boomers practice game on Wednesday against Melbourne United as the big Aussie continues to deal with soreness ahead of Australia’s FIBA Oceania Championship series against New Zealand. The winner of the two-game series will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Bogut, who won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in June, sat out another session after being benched in Australia’s final European tour game last week due to back soreness. Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley said the team is just resting the 6-foot-10 centre because of a slight soreness, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

However, despite missing out on the team’s recent scrimmage against the NBL side, Bogut is certain he will face the Tall Blacks on Saturday come tipoff. The 30-year-old centre said he is ready to take the floor in his hometown against New Zealand.

“The coaches understand that and let me listen to my body when I need a recovery or off day. You can still get your work in with some non-impact conditioning and core, but some days you just need to put your hand up and get the ice on,” Bogut said, reports the Herald Sun.

Bogut also said that Australia’s coaches understand he needs to rest his body before the Olympic qualifier series. He added that there is no point in sacrificing his body on a tune-up game when the real battle is on Saturday and Tuesday. Australia will take on New Zealand at Rod Laver Arena on Aug. 15 before flying to Wellington on Aug. 18 for the second leg of the tournament.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills, who replaced an injured Dante Exum in the Boomers lineup, was restricted to 20 minutes in the team’s warm up game against Melbourne United. However, the 6-foot guard showcased his shooting skills, sinking four of 10 from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, the Boomers lost another point guard on Thursday after Damian Martin was ruled out due to a calf injury. Martin has been replaced by Cairns Tiapans’ Cameron Gliddon.

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