MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Kemba Walker scored 23 factors and Myles Turner added 15 to offer Staff USA a 102-86 win over Australia on Thursday in a World Cup warm-up sport.
The attendance at Marvel Stadium, which usually hosts soccer, cricket and Australian guidelines soccer, was 51,218, billed as the biggest crowd ever to look at a basketball sport in Australia. The stadium was remodeled right into a make-shift basketball area for 2 video games towards the Individuals earlier than the World Cup begins this month in China.
After Australia briefly took the lead at 45-44 early within the second half, the Individuals scored 13 unanswered factors, together with three straight 3-pointers by Turner, Harrison Barnes and Donovan Mitchell, to go up 57-45.
”The best way we bounced again within the second half exhibits the character of this group,” Mitchell mentioned. ”We performed in entrance of 55,000 folks – there’s going to be nerves, guys are going to be geeked up and able to go. However as soon as we settled down and began enjoying our basketball we have been in good condition.”
Patty Mills and Chris Goulding scored 19 factors every for Australia.
Walker was one the keys for the second-half resurgence for the Individuals, scoring 21 of his 23 factors after halftime.
”I am one of many leaders of this group, so it is essential for me to set that tone,” the Celtics guard mentioned.
The roof of Marvel Stadium was closed for the sport and a raised basketball court docket was dropped in the midst of the sector surrounded by tons of of white chairs, greater than 20 rows deep, for followers who paid for flooring seating.
”Everybody got here out tonight,” Mills mentioned. ”Followers having the ability to present their full assist, it is actually cool, actually good to see and hopefully we hold this up for years to come back.”
Regardless of the large crowd, Australian media reported that some followers have been issued refunds as a result of they purchased tickets primarily based on promotional supplies depicting Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Neither is on the group.
Australia was additionally with out its greatest star, Ben Simmons, who has opted to not play within the World Cup. Nonetheless, the Boomers beginning lineup included 4 NBA gamers: Mills, Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova.
The group produced solely a smattering of applause for American baskets. Nevertheless, cheers erupted when the Boomers reduce down the U.S. lead earlier than halftime on back-to-back 3-pointers by Goulding and 6 straight factors by Mills.
The win was the 78th in a row in main worldwide exhibitions and competitors for the U.S. nationwide group, a streak that began with the bronze medal sport of the 2006 world championships. It encompasses gold-medal runs on the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the Olympics in 2008, 2012 and 2016, and the FIBA Americas match in 2007.
It additionally made the U.S. 2-Zero below coach Gregg Popovich, after final weekend’s exhibition win in California over Spain.
TIP-INS
USA: Boston’s Marcus Good, who remains to be working his means again from a calf harm that popped up about two weeks in the past throughout coaching camp in Las Vegas, didn’t play. San Antonio’s Derrick White additionally did not play for the U.S. till the ultimate minutes. … It was the primary assembly between the nationwide groups for the reason that Individuals received 98-88 on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics on their option to a gold medal.
Australia: Actor Russell Crowe, who spends most of his time dwelling in Australia, was a part of the large crowd. … In a sight that NBA followers are used to, Dellavedova dived on the ground for free balls thrice within the sport’s first three minutes – together with on the opening faucet. … Mills gave Popovich, his longtime coach in San Antonio, an enormous hug courtside simply earlier than the sport began.
INJURY SCARE
Jayson Tatum received knocked over by a defender within the third quarter and tumbled backward considerably awkwardly – the again of his head falling into Walker’s knee. Tatum was shaken up briefly however remained within the sport.
UP NEXT
The groups meet once more in Melbourne on Saturday.
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This story has been corrected to point out that Staff USA scored 13 unanswered factors, not 12.