[ad_1]
Head coach Gregg Popovich chose to turn things around for USA Basketball on Monday night after a stunning loss to Nigeria in the team’s opener this weekend. All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo were sent to the bench with Draymond Green and Jerami Grant inserted into the starting five, presumably in an effort to bring more defensive advantage to the starting five while providing the bench with more. of shooting creation with Tatum.
The move helped the Americans forge a nine-point halftime lead, with Australia limited to just 37 points in the first half. However, a 19-6 led by the Australians in the final five minutes of the third quarter built a five-point lead, leading to a back-and-forth affair throughout the final period. In the end, Patty Mills took over with a record 21 points, leading the Australians to a 91-83 victory and giving the Americans their second straight loss.
Mills and Joe Ingles (15 points) led a balanced scoring effort by Australia that featured seven different players scoring eight or more points. Matisse Thybulle (12 points) also participated with a double-digit scoring effort.
Damian Lillard carried the offensive charge of the Americans with a high of 22 points, including 16 in the first half.
Kevin Durant added 17 points and Bradley Beal added 12, but the entire United States roster was held scoreless on the field for the final 4:34 loss. This was only the third time Team USA has lost consecutive games in international competition in the past 30 years. The Americans remained shorthanded for the contest, with three Olympians still playing in the NBA Finals with Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday adjusting for the Bucks and Suns respectively. Without them USA Select team members Keldon Johnson, Darius Garland and Saddiq Bey all saw minutes in defeat.
Australia (FIBA’s No.3-ranked team) entered the game as a 16.5-point underdog and pulled off the relentless effort against Team USA in the first clash between the two. teams since an exhibition victory in 2019 for the Australians ahead of the FIBA World Cup, the first time in 55 years they had beaten the Americans. USA Basketball has fallen to 55-4 in exhibition contests since 1992 with the loss.
The Americans won’t have much time to linger on the game with another clash against Argentina in Las Vegas on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET.
[ad_2]
Source link