Australia stuns Crew USA, snaps 78-game streak

MELBOURNE, Australia — The U.S. males’s basketball staff misplaced for the primary time in almost 13 years, falling to Australia 98-94 in a pre-World Cup exhibition recreation Saturday.

Patty Mills scored 30 factors for Australia, which rallied from a 10-point deficit within the second half.

It was the primary loss for the U.S. in a serious worldwide match or exhibition because the 2006 world championship semifinals towards Greece. The Individuals received the bronze-medal recreation of that match, after which had been unbeaten by means of the cycles for the 2007 FIBA Americas, 2008 Olympics, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Olympics, 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Add all that up, and it was a 78-game successful streak for the U.S. — the longest in program historical past.

And it is now over.

“They needed it greater than us tonight,” U.S. guard Kemba Walker stated. “Lesson realized for us.”

USA Basketball is No. 1 in FIBA’s world rankings, however to this point within the run-up to this World Cup — with many of the high NBA All-Stars deciding to not play this summer time — the Individuals haven’t regarded like a lock for extra gold. They beat Spain by 9 in Anaheim, California on Aug. 16, wanted an enormous second half to defeat Australia by 16 on Thursday, after which let a second-half lead slip away Saturday.

Enjoying towards his San Antonio Spurs coach, U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, Mills scored Australia’s final 10 factors.

“It was superior,” Mills stated.

Walker scored 22 factors for the U.S., and Harrison Barnes had 20. Donovan Mitchell’s Three-pointer with 1:05 left obtained the U.S. to inside 97-94, the Individuals compelled a cease on the following possession and had two possibilities to tie — however Mitchell’s Three-pointer was off, Joe Harris missed a nook Three a number of seconds later and Mills iced the sport with a free throw.

Aron Baynes left the ground along with his head again, screaming in celebration as he slapped fingers with delirious countrymen. Andrew Bogut and Joe Ingles grabbed their youngsters and introduced them on the ground for a glance.

Bogut scored 16 factors, Ingles had 15 and Baynes scored 13 for the Australians.

“Clearly, this was an excellent step for us,” Ingles stated.

Baynes powered in for a rating that put Australia up 82-76 with Eight:25 left, simply earlier than Barnes answered with a three-point play for the U.S. to start out an Eight-Zero run that put the Individuals again on high. There have been 4 lead modifications within the last quarter, the final coming when Ingles made a step-back Three with Three:35 left for an 88-87 lead.

Mills did the remainder.

Patty Mills scored Australia’s final 10 factors and completed with 30 on the night time to guide all scorers. Joe Murphy/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

He banked in an extended Three for a four-point lead, added a layup to place his staff up six with 1:50 left and clinched it with the final free throw. The U.S. led by one on the half and went up 68-58 halfway by means of the third on a dunk by Jayson Tatum, however the Australians obtained proper again into the sport. Mills scored eight factors in 45 seconds, together with a pair of Three-pointers, to get Australia to inside one with 2:40 left within the third.

“That is an excellent staff and so they’ve been collectively a very long time,” Barnes stated. “They play an excellent type of basketball.”

TIP-INS

United States: Barnes, Marcus Sensible (who had been out due to a calf pressure), Khris Middleton, Mitchell and Myles Turner began for the Individuals. The U.S. has now used totally different beginning lineups in its three exhibitions, with solely Mitchell opening all three contests. In all, the U.S. has given 9 totally different gamers not less than one begin on the pre-World Cup tour. … Kyle Kuzma (left ankle soreness) didn’t play.

Australia: Attendance was 52,079, the most important crowd to observe a basketball recreation in Australia — breaking the report of 51,218 set Thursday. … The Australians went with the identical starters for the second straight recreation, opening with Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, Mills, Baynes and Jock Landale. … Ingles and Mitchell weren’t the one Utah Jazz guards at Marvel Stadium — Dante Exum was within the stands.

SHAKEN UP

U.S. guard Derrick White of the San Antonio Spurs was tripped up as he dribbled downcourt halfway by means of the fourth quarter, and hit his brow on the court docket. He left with a large icepack on the left facet of his head, strolling very gingerly to the locker room space.

ONWARD

The U.S. was making the flight — simply over an hour — from Melbourne to Sydney after the sport, with plans to apply there Sunday afternoon. Plans name for the Individuals to remain in Sydney by means of Wednesday earlier than making the journey to Shanghai, the place they’re going to open World Cup play on Sept. 1 towards the Czech Republic.

UP NEXT

USA: Face Canada in an exhibition on Monday at Sydney.

Australia: Face Canada in World Cup opener on Sept. 1 at Dongguan, China.