The U.S. Olympic team had mixed feelings about their performance on Monday. Anthony Davis scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton hit two crucial 3-pointers late in the game to halt a slide, and the U.S. defeated Australia 98-92. This win improved their record to 2-0 in a series of five exhibition games leading up to the Paris Olympics.
Devin Booker added 16 points, Anthony Edwards contributed 14, and LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Joel Embiid each scored 10 points for the Americans. The team is currently hosting two more exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with a match against Serbia scheduled for Wednesday.
Australia’s Jock Landale led all scorers with 20 points, supported by 17 points from Josh Giddey and 14 from Dyson Daniels. Despite holding a 24-point lead in the third quarter, the U.S. saw their advantage shrink to six points with 5:05 remaining as Australia mounted a 39-21 run.
However, Haliburton’s consecutive 3-pointers extended the lead to 92-80.
Australia narrowed the gap to four points twice, but Devin Booker’s perfect 4-for-4 free-throw shooting in the final 8 seconds secured the victory for the U.S.
Reflecting on the game, U.S. coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the team’s struggles in the third quarter, attributing it to turnovers and defensive lapses. He credited Australia for their strong effort and physical play, acknowledging that the game provided valuable lessons for his team to review and improve upon.
