The US survived a strong effort from Australia to win 98-92 in an exhibition game in preparation for the Abu Dhabi Olympics on Monday.
Patty Mills nailed a 3-pointer from the left wing to pull the Boomers within six, 86-80, during an 0-for-7 shooting series for Team USA. But after Australia missed a 3-pointer and two attempts from close range to further reduce the lead, Tyrese Haliburton nailed 3-pointers on consecutive possessions for a 92-80 lead that effectively decided the game.
Jock Landale was the standout for Australia, with 20 points and seven offensive rebounds.
With USA coach Steve Kerr shuffling his starting lineup at halftime, Australia continued to battle deep into the second half, scoring in the paint but unable to contain Team USA’s big players. Anthony Davis had 17 points and seven rebounds to help the US overcome a stagnant second half. The US battled self-inflicted wounds with empty possessions and 18 turnovers. The US also committed 15 turnovers in an exhibition win over Canada last week.
“In the third quarter, we started losing the ball,” Kerr said. “We gave up a lot of points at the basket. Back cuts, offensive boards and all that, the game changed. It’s a good lesson for us. It’s better to learn that lesson now than later. And this will be good tape for us to watch. But I give Australia a lot of credit. They were great. They fought. They were really physical. They took us on in the last quarter and a half and really made it a game.”
Just as in the game against Canada, the U.S.’s so-called second unit—Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, Davis and Devin Booker—changed the game. That was the group on the court when the Americans turned a game tied at 19-19 with 3:15 left in the first half into a 39-23 lead—a 20-4 run in a span of five minutes.
Kerr used that group as his starting five to open the second half. But it’s already become a clear trend: When the U.S. goes to its bench and can replace All-Stars with other All-Stars, it’s a big problem for opponents who don’t have nearly the same depth.
“The strength of our team is our depth and we need to leverage that depth,” Kerr said.
The second match in the Abu Dhabi showcase will be between Serbia and the US – members of the same Olympic pool in Paris – on Wednesday, with the US still scheduled to play two exhibition games in London before the Olympics. Australia opens its Olympic campaign against Spain on July 27.