The USA men’s basketball team narrowly defeated Australia 98-92 in an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi on July 15, as part of their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite building a commanding 24-point lead in the third quarter, Team USA faced a strong comeback from the Australian Boomers, who cut the deficit to just six points with 5:05 left in the game.Anthony Davis led the US team with a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton’s crucial late 3-pointers helped secure the win. LeBron James contributed 10 points to the victory. For Australia, Josh Giddey impressed with 17 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds.The game highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement for the US team. Coach Steve Kerr praised the team’s depth but emphasized the need to adapt quickly and learn from their mistakes. “We’ve got a lot to clean up, but that was good. Good vibes,” added Steph Curry after the game.Notably, Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game due to a calf strain, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming Olympics. Durant is aiming to win a record fourth Olympic gold medal, and his absence is being closely monitored.In other team news, there are discussions about potentially benching Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, in favor of Anthony Davis or Bam Adebayo. Coach Kerr is still experimenting with lineups, stating, “We’ll continue to look at different combinations”.The team’s composition has also been affected by USA Basketball’s decision to remove Kawhi Leonard from the roster due to concerns about his knee health, despite the Los Angeles Clippers’ support for his participation. Leonard has been replaced by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White.Team USA will face Serbia in their next exhibition game on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, as they continue their preparation for their Olympic opener against Serbia on July 28.
Key points
- Team USA narrowly defeated Australia 98-92 in an Olympic warm-up game, nearly blowing a 24-point lead.
- Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game due to a calf injury, raising concerns about his Olympic availability.
- Coach Steve Kerr is considering benching Joel Embiid in favor of Anthony Davis or Bam Adebayo.
- Kawhi Leonard was removed from the USA Basketball roster due to knee health concerns.
Contradictions👾While some sources reported a strong performance by the US team, others highlighted their struggles and near collapse against Australia.
