Team USA continued their build-up to the Paris Olympics with a hard-fought 98-92 win over Australia in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.
Steve Kerr’s side showcased some of the training routines they’ve been working on with a greater level of offensive fluency than in the win over Canada in Las Vegas on Thursday. But there were still frailties on defense with the Aussies scoring 68 points in the paint.
Anthony Davis was the US’s most impressive performer at both ends of the court, scoring 17 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
The Los Angeles Lakers star told ESPN: “I think we made a big improvement on both ends of the floor.
“You got 12 guys on the team who are all elite players, the best guys on their team and so it gets tough when you’re trying to play with each other and trying to figure it out and you’re trying to make the right reads and make the right pass.”
ǝʇɐɯ ‘ʎɐp,⅁ pic.twitter.com/w7zcDtmGMR
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 15, 2024
Team USA will head to France seeking a fifth successive gold medal but they are running out of time to eradicate a soft centre that Australia were able to capitalize on as they twice cut the deficit to four points in the final minute.
Kerr said: “We gave up a ton of points at the basket back cuts, offensive boards, and so the game shifted and it’s a good lesson for us.
“Better to learn that lesson now than later. And this will be a good tape for us to watch.”
Jock Landale led Australia with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Josh Giddey added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Next up for the US is a friendly clash with Serbia, who watched tonight’s game at the Etihad Arena, against whom they also open their Olympic campaign on July 28.
