Team USA continued their Olympic preparations with a hard-fought 98-92 victory over Australia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, following a dominant 86-72 win over Canada in Las Vegas.
Despite holding a commanding 53-37 halftime lead against Australia, Team USA allowed their opponents to narrow the gap in the second half.
Devin Booker, instrumental in securing the win with crucial free-throws, expressed dissatisfaction with Team USA’s performance post-halftime.
“We understand time is not on our side,” Booker remarked, reflecting on Team USA’s 18 turnovers compared to Australia’s 13.
Booker’s comments, relayed by Joe Vardon of The Athletic, highlighted the urgency for Team USA to address their gameplay issues promptly.
“We have to clean things up quickly, and playing like we did in the second half today … we will not win a gold medal,” Booker asserted, underscoring the team’s aspirations for Olympic success.
Despite the challenges, Team USA showcased prowess from beyond the arc, converting 12 out of 29 attempts compared to Australia’s 4 out of 18.
The disparity in three-point shooting proved pivotal in maintaining Team USA’s lead throughout the game.
With the Paris Olympics nearing, Team USA aims to refine their performance and tighten their gameplay strategies to compete at the highest level.
The Americans face Serbia led by Nikola Jokic in another exhibition game tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.