USA 98 - 92 Australia : summary scores, stats and highlights | USA Basketball Showcase
Tyrese Haliburton is a fantastic player, and he's shown that for Indiana over the last few years, but if you are going to let someone beat you on this stacked Team USA side, it is going to be him. The Aussies left him open on back to back possessions and he punished them on back to back possessions stretching the lead from 6 to 12. This Team USA side is so dangerous and they have so many weapons, it's going to be almost impossible to beat them.
They will get their toughest pre Olympic test on Wednesday against the Serbian national team who they will meet in their group once the official tournament starts.
The Aussies made a huge comeback on the Americans thanks to a 15-3 fourth quarter run that cut the lead to 6 points and Team USA had to crawl to the finish line late on.
Back when the Dream Team was running through the competition, guys played that team scared. Josh Giddey showed no one is going to be scared of this team. He played fearless, got to anywhere he wanted on the court, and ended the game with 17, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
It wasn't just Anthony Davis doing work down low. He hit this three from the corner on a night in which Joel Embiid chipped in another 10 points and 5 rebounds. This team is scary at all positions but when you have Davis and a former MVP banging down low, how are you supposed to stop them?
Team USA got a little sloppy in the third quarter, turning the ball over a bit too often and Donte Exum was there to claw the Aussies back. After going quiet in the 2nd quarter, Edwards came up with a big bucket when his team needed it. He ended the night with 14 and 4 rebounds.
Davis had a double double against Canada and improved on that performance against Australia. The Boomers did drag down a few more offensive rebounds than expected, but it's hard to blame Davis to had 17 and 14 rebounds. This was the largest would get before the Aussies started to claw their way back in the game.
Tatum got the start after coming off the bench in the Canada game, much like Edwards. He did a little bit of everything much like we saw from him in the NBA Finals. He had three field goals, two of them dunks, and four rebounds with five assists.
Stephen Curry might be the face or one of the two faces of this team, but when you are surrounded by this much talent you have to make sure you take your chances. He took six shots, all threes and this was the only one he made.
Booker started the second quarter with this AND 1. He had a couple jumper in the first half but most of his damage came in in the fourth quarter from the FT line.
The Aussies came out swinging thanks to great games from Josh Giddey and Jock Landale. The newest Chicago Bull, Giddey, sliced up Team USA's defense all day. This bucket tied the game up at 19-19 but the Americans went on a 13-2 run and would open up the lead before halftime.
ANTMAN was feeling himself in the first half. He shook one of the Aussie defenders and had 11 points in 5 minutes but he would cool off as Coach Kerr made changes to ensure all of his guys got their minutes.
Anthony Edwards told the world he is the No. 1 option for this team and he didn't lie. He got the start after coming off the bench against Canada and had 8 points in the first four minutes.
Team USA got a late scare from Australia in their second game of the USA Basketball Showcase from Abu Dhabi. Anthony Davis had a massive game with 17 points and 14 rebounds, but the Americans almost blew a 20 point second half lead.
LeBron James got his side going early on in their first of two games from Abu Dhabi. He came out and hit a couple threes to set the tone for Team USA, but Australia hung with them for most of the first quarter.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! Team USA hold off an upset at the hands of Australia. They are undefeated in their two games of their Showcase. They will back back on the court on Wednesday against Serbia.
Booker back to the line and he hits both FTs. That should do it.
McVeigh hits the mid range jumper and the lead is back to 4 with 5 seconds to go.
Booker sent to the line after the foul on Exum and he hits both FTs.
Giddey finds Landale with another great draw up out of the timeout and he gets the bucket and the foul! FT is is good!
Five seconds called on USA and AUS is going to take a timeout with 10 on the clock.
Back door cut from Green and Giddey found him for a quick lay up.
Booker to the elbow, uses a pump fake to get his defender in the air and knocks down the short jumper.
Timeout AUS with 31.4 to go.
Timeout USA with 1:07 to go in the 4th.
Giddey gets back in the lane and he floats it up and in. It's a 7 point game with under 70 seconds to go.
Giddey to the line after the foul on Adebayo and he hits one of two, but the ball went off USA last and Landale was there with the bucket off the inbound.
Haliburton with back to back three balls and look who is stepping up when Team USA need it most!
Extra pass from Holiday to Haliburton who drills the corner three and breaks this AUS run.
The Boomers are on a 17-5 run in the last five minutes.
Dellavadova looks ahead for Daniels who lays it up and in on the break! It's a 6 point game with 5:05 to go in the 4th quarter! Timeout Team USA.
Mills with a spot up three ball from the wing and the lead is down to 8!
Giddey on the dribble and lays it up after the drive and gets fouled by Edwards. FT is good andwe have an 11 point game.
Daniels with the floater off another offensive board from Landale.
LeBron missed the runner in the lane but Davis was there for the off balanced tip in.
McKay with a three ball from the corner!
Tatum to the line after the foul on Landale and he hits one of two FTs.
Giddey gets back to the bucket off the dribble and he finger rolls it in.
James spins to the cup and lays it up and in.
Great pass from Landale to Giddey who lays it up and in off the glass.
Tatum running the break and he finishes with the reverse lay up.
LeBron went behind the back and kicked it out to Davis in the corner and he drilled it.
Giddey missed the jumper but McVeigh was there for the offensive rebound and the put back.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER!
The US are hanging on to their lead, but AUS is giving it their all just to cut the lead back down to double digits. Ten more minutes from Abu Dhabi.
They will not upgrade the foul to a flagrant. so Davis goes to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Davis got the offensive rebound and was sent to the ground by Green. They are going to take a look at this to see if it's going to be an unsportsmanlike foul.
Green to the iron on the baseline drive, gets the lay up to fall and the foul on Curry. FT is good.
Davis gets his own rebound and smashes home a put back slam.
McVeigh to the line after the foul on Edwards and he hits one of two FTs.
Embiid with the lay up and the foul on McVeigh and he hits the FT for the AND 1.
McVeigh cuts to the bucket and Green found him for the lay up through traffic.
Edwards to the line after a lay up and a foul on Green, and he hits the FT to complete the three point play.
Magnay with the steal off the inbound and he lays it up and in. 14-2 run for AUS.
Curry gives it away this time and Magnay is there with put back slam off the missed lay up from Exum.
Embiid with a pass that sails out of bounds and Exum hits the floater in the paint. He's got a quick four.
Tatum fouled Exum on a three ball with less than a second on the shot clock and he hits two of three from the line.
Timeout USA with 6:22 to go in the third quarter.
MIlls hits the mid range jumper off the offensive board from Landale. The big man for AUS has been one of the best players on the court today.
Adebayo with the lay in off the feed from Holiday.
Pass inside from Kay to Landale who closes out his defender and slams it home.
Daniels with the steal in the open court and he takes it for the two handed jam on the break.
Davis tot he line after the and he hits one of two FTs after the TO.
Landale sends Davis to the line where he will be after the break. Timeout from Etihad Stadium with 7:09 to go in the third quarter.
Davis fighting down low against Landale and he gets the put back to go.
Booker with a couple buckets in a row, this one from downtown and he's creeping up on double digits.
Kay hits a deep two from the corner.
Booker stops on a dime and kisses it off the glass from outside the lane.
Davis with a little jump hook in the paint and he's starting to get going out of the break.
Adebayo with the short jumper inside the FT line off the dish from Booker.
Giddey finds Daniels streaking to the rim for a lay up to start the third quarter.
WE ARE BACK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION FROM ABU DHABI!!!
Tatum had a couple dunks in the first half for his four first half points. He's got 4 rebounds and 4 assists to go along with those two dunks.
Curry has 3 points after the first two quarter, but that's the way things are going to go on this team. Great scorers are going to sacrafice their stats for the good of the team.
Everyone is getting a piece of the pie today in Abu Dhabi. Jrue Holiday is one of three Celtics on Team USA, and he made an impact on both ends in the first half.
The Chicago Bulls have to be happy with what they are seeing from their new PG. He had 7 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in the first half.
Edwards shook Giddey and hit the three ball to end the quarter with 11 points. He's got 11 at half.
ANT man told everyone he's the No. 1 option on this team. Some people laughed it off, but he got the start today and he's showing that there's nothing to laugh about.
LeBron had two quick threes to get his team going. He's got 9 points, 2 rebounds and two assists but it was Anthony Edwards heated up in the first quarter.
Australia came out and got the first bucket but LeBron and company would get off to a hot start, unlike their game against Canada when they missed their first six shots.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME FROM ABU DHABI!
Team USA are in control after a quick start from the Boomers'.
Landale goes strong to the hoop off the pick and roll from Giddey.
Embiid gets the lay up go and the foul on Giddey. FT is no good.
Landale cuts to the bucket and Mills found him for the lay up.
Great ball movement from the US, and Edwards dumped it off to Tatum after the drive and the NBA Champ threw it down with two hands. That gives you an idea of just how good this team can be when they are rolling.
Tatum finds Embiid at the top of the key and he drills a three ball for his first points of the game.
Giddey drops it off for Landale underneath for the jam!
Embiid sends Green to the line after the lay up attempt in transition, and he hits on of two FTs.
Tatum with the baseline jam and he throws it down with two hands.
LeBron fouled on the break by Giddey and he hits both FTs.
Curry finds some space on the perimeter for the first time and he drills it from the left wing!
Landale finds McVeigh on the cut to the bucket and he gets the roll off the front of the rim on the lay up.
Giddey gets the defender on his back and finger rolls it in down the lane.
Giddey muscles into the paint and gets the runner to fall.
The starting five for Team USA is back in, and Tatum sends Daniels to the line where he hits one of two.
Holiday from a tough angle on the baseline and he hits it over Landale.
Davis picks off Mills out of the timeout and Adebayo hits the elbow jumper on the other end.
Timeout USA with 8:55 to go in the first half.
Landale finds Daniels on the back door cut on the baseline for the slam.
Booker pulls up and hits the mid range jumper and get the foul to open the second quarter. FT is good to complete the three point play.
We are at the end of the first quarter and it's the US up 11 after a 13-2 run to end the quarter.
Edwards had 11 to start the game, and LeBron had a few threes after a hot start from outside.
Landale has 7 for Australia and Magnay has 4 off the bench.
Landale with the foul on Adebayo and he hits both FTs. Team USA are on a 13-2 run.
Booker sent to the line after MIlls got a piece of him on the shot and he hits both FTs.
Adebayo on the board with a turnaround fadeaway over Landale.
Davis to the line after the foul on Magnay and he his both FTs.
Exum puts his head down and gets a runner to go in the lane.
Holiday off the bench and on the board with a three after the kick out from Davis.
Timeout Australia with 2:26 to go in the 1st quarter.
Davis at the FT line and he was dared to shoot it by Giddey.
Giddey with an off balanced lay up through the lane and we are tied up after a 6-0 run by AUS.
Exum on the drive and back to Magnay on the dump off for the lay up.
Exum looks inside for Magnay posting up on Davis and he gets the floater to go over the big man.
LeBron didn't waste any time opening his account. He's got a couple three balls in the first quarter.
ANT is feeling it. He told everyone he's the No. 1 option on this team and he's showing it today after Coach Kerr gave him the start.
ANT with a nasty step back to open up some space on the perimeter and he drills the three ball! He's got 11 already!
Embiid to the line after the foul on Landale and he hits both FTs.
Landale again with the lay up off the offensive board and what a start he is having.
LeBron finds Edwards again and he connects on the floater. He's off to a hot start with 7 early points.
Kay with the slash to the rack and Landale found him for the slam down the lane.
Giddey to the line after the foul on Curry and he hits one of two.
LeBron found Edwards on the wing and he sticks his second three ball of the day.
Daniels answers back with a three ball of his own and the triples are flowing here in Abu Dhabi.
LeBron drills another three ball, and he's got two of those already.
ANT is on the board with a triple try and last game's leading scorer opens his account.
Landale showing he can stretch the defense, drilling the three ball from the top of the key and he's got the first 5 points for AUS.
LeBron opens his account with a corner three ball off the dish from Tatum and the US have their first lead.
Landale gets us started with an offensive board and put back! How long can the Aussie's protect that lead?
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM ABU DHABI!!!
Boomers' starting five
The Aussies are going with Dyson Daniels, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Patty Mills and Josh Giddey. They are a 20 point underdogs against USA, but let's see if they can keep it close at least for a few quarter.
Team USA Starting 5
Steve Kerr has tweaked his starting five for today's game against Australia. Last game he went with his vets, Booker, James, Embiid, Curry and Holiday in the game vs. Canada. Today it's James, Curry and Embiid joined by Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards.
KD still dealing with calf strain
There is another player struggling with an injury on Team USA, but it looks like he is going to stay with the squad through the pre Olympic tour and into the Paris Games. Kevin Durant has been dealing with a calf strain that kept him out of the game against Canada, and will keep him out of today's game, but head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t seem too concerned with KD’s status. "It's not something we've even discussed at this point because we feel good that [Durant] is going to be OK," Kerr said. There are still a few weeks before the team has to have their roster finalized for the Olympics, but they would prefer to have their squad set before the end of the showcase so the players have as much court time together as possible.
Will White play today?
Right before the Canada game, USA Basketball made an announcement that they were going to leave Kawhi Leonard back home after coming to an agreement with his team the Los Angeles Clippers. Grant Hill, head of USA Basketball, said it was his decision to leave Kawhi off the team after battling a knee injury at the end of the NBA’s regular season and into the playoffs. Derrick White was named as the replacement, and joined the rest of the squad in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. White is one of three players representing the NBA Champion Boston Celtics on Team USA, joining Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum.
Aussie star watch
The Aussies have a squad stacked with player who don’t just have NBA experience, but they have Finals experience. Donte Exum and Josh Green just played in the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks a few weeks ago, while Matthew Dellavedova won an NBA title with his opponent in today’s game LeBron James back in 2016. Patty Mills won a title back in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, but this year’s Boomers team is going to be centered more around guys like Josh Giddey and Jock Landale who look to carry the next generation of Aussie Basketball.
ANT the No. 1 option?
It’s hard to pick just one star on this team to highlight. This is one of the most star studded, talented rosters that the basketball world has ever seen. There is no doubt LeBron James and Steph Curry are going to be the faces of this team after being the generational talents in the NBA for the last decade, or more. But if the first game showed us anything it’s that the next generation is ready to take the torch from the those who have carried this country for so long. Anthony Edwards stepped up and led the team in scoring at just 22 years old, and didn’t back away from the cameras in the lead up to the Canada game. He told reporters there may be tons of talent on this team, but he is the number one option. He came off the bench and put up 10 shots, tied for most with Anthony Davis.
Boomer's last game
The Aussies last game was played over 10 days ago, when they took on the Chinese National team and wiped them out 91-58. It was a much more lopsided score then the previous match up in which Australia won 107-87 just two days earlier. It was the Aussies’ defense that set the tone early on, holding China to just six points in the first quarter. Jock Landale led his team with 19 points and 9 rebounds while Chris Goulding had 12 points and Josh Giddey dropped 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Team USA's debut
Team USA debuted their pre Olympic showcase in Las Vegas against the Canadian National Team, which is another team that has a deep roster of NBA players. The US didn’t come out locked in from the field, missing their first six shots, but they found their rhythm as the first half went on. They went into half with an eight point lead, and extended it in the final two quarters, easing to an 86-72 win to start their showcase. Anthony Edwards led his team with 13 points while Anthony Edwards had a double-double with 11 and 10 rebounds.
We are live from Etihad Arena
Hello everyone and welcome to Abu Dhabi where the two teams that have high hopes for gold in the Paris Olympics measure up in a pre Opening Ceremony exhibition. Team USA is the overwhelming favorite to win it all for the fifth straight time, but there are a handful of teams looking to snap the streak and one of those are the Aussies. The Australians have a handful of NBA stars and are going to look to use that experience to knock off the US today from Abu Dhabi. Today’s game may not mean much to either team, but for the US it’s a chance to get some extra run in against Olympic competition and for Australia it’s a chance to see how they stack up against the gold medal front runners.
Team USA vs. Australia
The second game of Team USA’s pre Olympic tour tips off today as we get a second look at LeBron James, Steph Curry and the rest of a loaded squad of stars. The next test on the tour is Australia, which will be the first of two teams they will play in Abu Dhabi before continuing with the tour in London, England and AS English will be with you all afternoon providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of Team USA’s second Showcase game.