Nikola Jokic made the biggest plays on both ends in the homestretch and Serbia outlasted Australia in overtime, 95-90, in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s basketball quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 6 (Philippine time).
Jokic reminded everyone there’s more to him than no-look passes and awkward shots, after making a crucial steal and block on Patty Mills inside the final two minutes of the extra session.
Then Jokic did what was expected from a three-time NBA MVP, taking matters into his own hands just as his team needs him most, scoring back-to-back buckets for a 93-90 lead that pretty much sealed it for the Eagles with 25.1 ticks remaining.
With a pair of free throws with 13.6 to go, Bogdan Bogdanovic put the finishing touches on the victory that entailed a semifinal berth against the winner between Team USA and Brazil.
Jokic was two assists shy of a triple-double outing, put up 21 points and 14 rebounds, with four steals. Bogdanovic added 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
Vasilije Micic also contributed 15 points, while Ognjen Dobric and Marko Guduric scored 11 points apiece for the Eagles, who recovered from 24 points down in the second period.
That lead for Australia went down the drain in the third period, where Serbia outgunned the Boomers, 25-11, to make it a ball game.
[RELATED STORY: Germany eliminates Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece in Paris 2024 quarterfinals]
Patty Mills got into his element early on, sizzling with 20 points in the first half of action to lead Australia’s relentless assault.
Mills went gun-shy in the second half, but made the biggest field goal — an awkward fade away jumper over Jokic — with 1.4 seconds left in regulation that forced overtime.
The NBA veteran wound up with 26 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Josh Giddey added 25 points on three triples. He also had five rebounds and four assists in a losing effort.
