Reality hit the U.S. men’s national FIBA World Cup team Saturday when Australia stunned the Americans, 98-94, in an emotional exhibition game before a thunderous crowd of 52,079 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Guard Patty Mills, who plays for U.S. head coach Gregg Popovich on the NBA San Antonio Spurs, scored 30 points including his team’s final 10 points as the Aussies, which lost to the U.S., 102-86, two days earlier, defeated the U.S. for the first time ever, giving the Americans their first loss in international tournament and exhibitions after 78 straight victories. .
“They say Team USA doesn’t lose,’’ All NBA guard Kemba Walker from the Boston Celtics said. “I get it. They haven’t lost in a long time, but it happens. Teams lose. Like I said, we’re going to take this loss and build from it. That’s all we can do. All we can do is continue to try our best to get better. The real thing doesn’t start until China.’’
Walker came off the bench to score 22 points to lead the Americans, while forward Harrison Barnes of Sacramento—the only member of the 2016 Olympic gold medalists on this team, had 20 points and six rebounds. Guard Donovan Mitchell of Utah was the only other U.S. player to reach double figures with 12 points.
For Australia, which is ranked 11th in the world, center Andrew Bogut had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Joe Ingles had 15 points and 7 assists and Aron Baynes had 13 points. Mills, Bogut, Ingles and Baynes are among the half dozen NBA players on the Boomers’ roster. The Boomers were the tougher, more cohesive team down the stretch.
“We have a special group of guys that really like playing for the national team, they’re proud to put on that jersey,’’ Bogut said afterwards. “Our coaches have instilled a very good culture and I think we’ve got a group that we feel like we can beat anybody in the world. We feel like we can go out there and compete and that’s the first time under this regime, the last three or four years, I’ve felt that with the Boomers.
“Whereas in the past it was go to Olympics or the Worlds and “Oh, we’ll give it a fair shot and whatever happens, happens., the guys on this team get pissed off when we lose. It’s been great so far.’’
“I think when you look at international play, every team has been together for a long time,’’ Barnes said., “but they kind of have their calling card on what they fall back into the system, sets. For us, we’re still getting to that point.’’
Team USA, which has been together two and a half weeks, doesn’t have much time to build chemistry. They play Canada in a final exhibition in Sydney Monday, then open tournament play Sept. 1 against the Czech Republic in Shanghai.
The loss means that we need to play better,’’ Popovich said. “It is a measure of who you are. Nobody wins forever.’’
After clinging to a 49-48 lead, the Americans extended their margin to 68-58 before the Aussies dug in. Guard Marcus Smart from the Celtics, who had not played in either of the U.S. previous two exhibitions because of a bruised calf, started at the point for the U.S. He played 9:12 and scored seven points while grabbing one rebound and contributing three assists. Forward Kyle Kuzma from the Lakers, who was expected to make the team, did not play because of a left ankle injury and was the final cut.
Team USA lacks the marquis star power of the 2014 World Championship gold medalists but still has appears to have the best depth of any team in the tournament. They defeated Spain in Anaheim and split two road games with Australia, but they could be vulnerable against teams with legitimate star players like Nikola Jokic of Serbia and NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece once the tournament starts. .
