India last won a match at FIBA Asia Cup in 2015.

Jordan opened their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a 91-84 victory over India on Tuesday (August 5) at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The Indian basketball team were the underdogs heading into the game, due to being the lowest-ranked side (76) in the group and their 16th-place finish in the last edition. Meanwhile, World No. 35 Jordan were the clear favourite, as they finished fourth in the previous edition and had prevailed over India in all six meetings in this competition. 

The first quarter ended with a scoreline of 18-14 in favour of Jordan, who found multiple opportunities near the rim with their incessant pressure on the Men in Blue. Meanwhile, India missed several opportunities near the three-point line and the basket.

However, India bounced back stronger in the second quarter. They capitalized on the openings and found success from beyond the three-point line and adjacent to the free-throw line. The highlight for the team was performances from Arvind Muthu Krishnan and Muin Bek Hafeez. For Jordan, Dar Tucker delivered and put them in a good position.

As a result, at the halfway mark, the scores were leveled at 38-38, hinting at India surpassing all expectations and putting Jordan under pressure. 

In the third quarter, Jordan applied pressure at the rim and overwhelmed the Indian team. In particular, Hashem Abbas single-handedly led the team, as they added 22 points.  Indian captain Palpreet Singh Brar tried well, but India fell behind in their scoring rate. Hence, the quarter ended with a scoreline of 60-55 in favor of Jordan. 

In the final quarter, Dar Tucker put the Indian team under pressure from the outset, but India secured crucial points from Harsh Dagar and Pranav Prince, as the Indian offense gradually came to life.

Also Read: FIBA Asia Cup 2025: Schedule, fixtures, results & live streaming details

Jordan suffered multiple turnovers in the final quarter, and India converted them into points. However, Hashem Abbas managed to level the scores 80-80, with just 14 seconds remaining in the game. The game went into extra time.

In the final five minutes, Jordan were able to dominate the proceedings by bagging 11 points, and India managed to add only four points to their tally. As a result, Jordan won with a scoreline of 91-84. 

Dar Tucker was the best performer in the game with 30 points, while Arvind Muthu Krishnan contributed the most for India with 14 points. Pranav Prince returned with 12 points while recording seven rebounds and five assists.

India to face China in their next game at FIBA Asia Cup 2025

The Indian team will be up against China in their second fixture of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on Thursday (August 7). It will be an uphill task for India, as China has won the tournament 16 times and is ranked 30th in the FIBA rankings. 

Notably, it will be a must-win game for the team, as they strive to seal a second or a third-place finish to advance to the next stage. 

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram