2nd Pre-Olympic – In a thrilling prelude to the Paris Olympics, Team USA managed to secure a 98-92 victory against Australia, despite almost squandering a substantial lead. The game, held at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, showcased both strengths and areas needing improvement for the Americans.
Anthony Davis spearheaded the U.S. effort with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton‘s late-game heroics, including two critical 3-pointers, helped stave off a fierce Australian comeback. The U.S. now stands 2-0 in its five-game exhibition series leading up to the Olympics.
Strong Start, Shaky Finish
Team USA established a commanding 24-point lead midway through the third quarter, but Australia’s relentless 39-21 run trimmed the advantage to just six points with 5:05 remaining. Haliburton’s consecutive 3-pointers provided much-needed breathing room, extending the lead to 92-80.
Devin Booker contributed 16 points, while Anthony Edwards added 14. LeBron James, Bam Adebayo, and Joel Embiid each scored 10 points. Australia’s Jock Landale led all scorers with 20 points, supported by Josh Giddey’s 17 points and Dyson Daniels‘ 14.
Turnovers and Lessons
U.S. coach Steve Kerr highlighted turnovers as a major concern, with the team committing 18 turnovers. These mistakes nearly cost the Americans, particularly during the third quarter when Australia capitalized on U.S. errors to fuel their comeback.
“Third quarter, we started turning the ball over,” Kerr said. “We gave up a ton of points at the basket. Back cuts, offensive boards and so, the game shifted. 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. But I give Australia a ton of credit. They were great. They fought. They were really physical. Took it to us in the last quarter and a half and really made it a game.”
Bench Strength Shines
Just as in their previous game against Canada, the so-called second unit — Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Adebayo, Davis, and Booker — made a significant impact. This group turned a 19-19 tie into a 39-23 lead with a 20-4 run over just five minutes. Kerr started this lineup in the second half, emphasizing the team’s depth as a key strength.
“The strength of our team is our depth and we have to utilize our depth,” Kerr remarked.
2nd Pre-Olympic – Injury Updates
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game due to a calf strain and is unlikely to play in the upcoming match against Serbia. Derrick White, recently joining the team as an injury replacement for Kawhi Leonard, also sat out, having only practiced once with the squad.
Looking Ahead
“There’s enough time (to clean things up), but we have to take advantage of every game that we have of these exhibition games,” Stephen Curry said.
Team USA will face Serbia next in Abu Dhabi before heading to London for further exhibitions against South Sudan and Germany. The Americans open their Olympic campaign on July 28 against Serbia, emphasizing the need to refine their play and minimize turnovers before the main event.
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“It takes a little time to become a team,” Kerr said. “We need a couple weeks, but we will get there.”
Despite the close call, the game offered valuable lessons and underscored the importance of maintaining focus throughout. With a roster stacked with All-Stars, Team USA remains a formidable contender as they prepare for their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
- 2nd Pre-Olympic Boxscore
| Starters/ Bench | AST | PTS |
| Jayson Tatum | 5 | 7 |
| Lebron James | 3 | 10 |
| Joel Embid | 1 | 10 |
| Anthony Edwards | 2 | 14 |
| Stephen Curry | 1 | 3 |
| Anthony Davis | 1 | 17 |
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