Anthony Davis shined with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton hit crucial late-game 3-pointers, helping the U.S. team secure a 98-92 victory over Australia. This win improved their record to 2-0 in their five-game exhibition series leading up to the Paris Olympics.
Devin Booker contributed 16 points, Anthony Edwards added 14, and LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Joel Embiid each scored 10 points for the U.S. The team is hosting a pair of exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and will face Serbia next Wednesday.
For Australia, Jock Landale led with 20 points, followed by Josh Giddey with 17 and Dyson Daniels with 14.
A Game of Runs
The U.S. built a commanding 24-point lead midway through the third quarter. However, Australia fought back with a 39-21 run, narrowing the gap to just six points with 5:05 remaining. Haliburton’s back-to-back 3-pointers extended the lead to 92-80, providing a crucial buffer.
Australia managed to cut the deficit to four points twice, but Booker sealed the win by sinking four free throws in the final eight seconds.
Third Quarter Troubles
“Third quarter, we started turning the ball over,” said U.S. coach Steve Kerr. “We gave up a ton of points at the basket. Back cuts and offensive boards led to a significant shift in the game. It’s a beneficial lesson for us. It is better to learn that lesson now than later.
This will be an excellent tape for us to watch. But I give Australia a ton of credit. They were great. They fought. They were really physical. They exerted significant pressure on us during the final quarter and a half, truly turning the game into a contest.
The Impact of the Second Unit
Similar to their game against Canada, the second unit—Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Adebayo, Davis, and Booker—made a significant impact. This group turned a 19-19 tie into a 39-23 lead with a 20-4 run in just over five minutes.
Kerr used this lineup to start the second half, emphasizing the team’s depth. “The strength of our team is our depth, and we have to utilize our depth,” Kerr said.
In the past, this strategy has been effective for the United States. For instance, Dwyane Wade led the 2008 gold- medal team in scoring despite coming off the bench in all eight games.
Turnover Issues
Turnovers have been a major issue for the U.S. team. FIBA games are shorter than NBA games, making each possession more critical. After committing 15 turnovers in their previous win over Canada, the U.S. had 18 turnovers against Australia, which fueled Australia’s comeback by scoring 25 points off turnovers in the second half alone.
“Our turnovers are all about focus and execution,” Davis said.
Injury Watch
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game due to a calf strain and is unlikely to play against Serbia on Wednesday. Derrick White, who joined the team in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, also did not play. Kawhi Leonard was replaced on the roster by White due to knee issues.
Looking Ahead
Team USA’s next challenge will be against Serbia in Abu Dhabi. This game will provide another opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and address their turnover issues before the Paris Olympics.
The U.S. team aims to learn from these exhibition games, using both their strengths and weaknesses to prepare for the upcoming Olympic competition.
