Team USA is perhaps the starriest, deepest, and has the richest collection of basketball talent on the globe, there’s no denying that.
But they are not always the smoothest and most harmonious, and their latest pre-Olympic duel over the Australians proved just that.
Tyrese Haliburton and Devin Booker scored the final 12 Team USA points, enough for the world no. 1 Americans to survive a late scare from Australia, 98-92, in the second of their five-game slate of exhibitions leading into the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
Anthony Davis continued his fine play with another double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Edwards, who started after coming off the bench in their last win against Canada, added 14 points.
Another day, another double-double for AD.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 17 pts
🇺🇸 14 reb pic.twitter.com/3AUF1L6Yag
🐜 Æ in the UAE:
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
14 PTS
4 REB
2 STL
🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/N1WZ89NaEq
It appeared Team USA was cruising to a dominating win in Abu Dhabi, dropping 31 points in the opening frame and led by 24 points midway through the third after an Anthony Davis free throw to make it 65-41.
That's tuff, AD! 😤
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/Kdu3eJz7up
But the Boomers slowly crawled their way back into the game and a 15-3 run tightened capped off by a Dyson Daniels lay-in made 86-80 with 5:05 seconds left in the fourth.
Dyson Daniels caps the fastbreak trimming the deficit to 6 for @BasketballAus!
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 vs. 🇦🇺 live on FS1 pic.twitter.com/LvvKGTsgyX
This is where Haliburton stepped in, connecting on two consecutive triples in a span of 47 seconds to build back a double-digit lead at 92-80.
BALL MOVEMENT » CORNER 3
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/fr0F8SSvKR
We promise this is a different Tyrese corner 3.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/H4jgIa6jLA
Australia climbed back within four points on two occasions before the Americans finished the job, with Booker, who finished with 16 points, hit a clutch jumper with 32 seconds left, then going 4-of-4 from the line in the final seconds.
Got 'em.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/VrzojJVUyq
LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid finished with 10 markers for the Americans, who now moved 2-0 in their last two exhibition matches leading to Paris 2024.
The Americans shot a much-better 12/29 from deep but had 18 turnovers–they had 15 turnovers in last week’s exhibition win over Canada–demonstrated that these players are still learning how to play with each other, which they look to address in the coming days.
[ALSO READ: Paris 2024: Anthony Edwards, new-look Team USA shrug off slow start to cruise past Canada in pre-Olympics duel]
Jock Landale led the way for the 2020 Tokyo bronze medalists with 20 points, while Josh Giddey had 17 markers, eight rebounds, and seven assists while Daniels chipped in 14 points.
Josh Giddey gets downhill and finishes over the defense!@usabasketball vs. @BasketballAus on FS1 pic.twitter.com/6mcmiXo2Zh
— NBA (@NBA) July 15, 2024
Another glaring stat for the Boomers: 68 paint points that pretty much gave them life to come back only to fall short. That would be a concerning number in a 48-minute NBA game; in a 40-minute FIBA-style game, it's a flashing red light as far as the Americans are concerned.
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game because of a calf strain as well as guard Derrick White.
Up next for the USA is an exhibition matchup with Serbia and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic — against whom they will open Olympics play — on Thursday, July 18 (PH Time).
