Team USA improved to 2-0 in their Olympic exhibition games, surviving a late push from Australia to secure a 98-92 win. Despite being outscored 31-22 in the fourth quarter, the Americans held on for victory.
Anthony Edwards had a flawless opening quarter, scoring 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including three 3-pointers, helping the US establish a double-digit lead. Anthony Davis led the team with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks in just 18 minutes off the bench.
In addition to Edwards and Davis, four more Americans scored in double digits: Devin Booker (16) and Bam Adebayo (10) off the bench, as well as LeBron James (10) and Joel Embiid (10) in the starting lineup. Jayson Tatum, who replaced Booker in the starting five, contributed seven points, four rebounds, and a team-high five assists, highlighted by a driving baseline poster slam.
Australia’s NBA talent made for a competitive match. Rockets center Jock Landale led all scorers with 20 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists. Bulls guard Josh Giddey chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Hawks guard Dyson Daniels added 14 points and three steals. Giddey scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to lead Australia’s rally, and Daniels’ fast break finish cut the US lead to six with five minutes left. However, Tyrese Haliburton’s back-to-back corner 3s helped push the lead back to 12, sealing the win for Team USA.
The post Team USA Edges Australia in Thrilling Exhibition Game first appeared on The Source.
The post Team USA Edges Australia in Thrilling Exhibition Game appeared first on The Source.