Another day, another victory for Team USA, thanks to standout performances by two former Cats. Anthony Davis and Devin Booker came off the bench to lead the Americans to a 98-92 win over Australia in the second game of the USA Basketball Showcase, a five-game exhibition series to warm up for the Olympics, which begin next week in Paris.
Davis finished with a team-high 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes, his second straight double-double after putting up 10 points and 11 rebounds in last week’s win over Canada. Booker had 16 points on 4-7 from the floor and a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line, along with three rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. Bam Adebayo also scored in double figures, with 10 points, also in 18 minutes.
Today’s game took place in Abu Dhabi in front of a record crowd of 12,217 fans. While Team USA got the win, there is clearly some work to do before the Olympics next week. Australia had 68 points in the paint, exposing Team USA’s softness in the middle, and cut the lead to four twice in the final minute. A pair of three-pointers by Tyrese Haliburton and four of Booker’s seven free throws helped Team USA seal the victory.
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On Wednesday, Team USA will face Serbia, its first opponent in the Olympics. Serbia is led by Nikola Jokic, a six-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA MVP, and the MVP of the 2023 NBA Finals. NBA players Bogdan Bogdanovic, Aleksej Pokusevski, and Vasilije Micic are also on the Serbian National Team, which finished in the top ten of the FIBA Eurobasket Tournament in 2022.
Wednesday’s game will also take place in Abu Dhabi, tipping off at 12 p.m. ET on FS1. From there, the USA Basketball Showcase will move to London, England, where Team USA will finish its Olympic prep with exhibitions vs. South Sudan (including Wenyen Gabriel) and Germany.
USA vs. Australia Highlights
That’s tuff, AD! 😤🇺🇸#USABMNTx 📺@FS1pic.twitter.com/Kdu3eJz7up
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball)July 15, 2024
It’s Ant’s world. We just live in it.🇺🇸#USABMNTx 📺@FS1pic.twitter.com/SxCO5oXzps
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball)July 15, 2024
AD on a different level. 💪🇺🇸#USABMNTx 📺@FS1pic.twitter.com/kvnuYOEOFD
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball)July 15, 2024
That LA connection.🇺🇸#USABMNTx 📺@FS1pic.twitter.com/b0hqMXa4ae
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball)July 15, 2024
Bam showing off the touch.🇺🇸#USABMNTx 📺@FS1pic.twitter.com/xlGyPAHVpk
