Team USA shows flaws, holds on to beat Aussies

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — For all the popularity of the 3-pointer, competitiveness in international basketball often comes down to the trenches. And in recent competitions, Team USA has lost this battle too frequently.

Fixing that issue was paramount when assembling Team USA as it tries in Paris to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold. Early in the process, challenges remain on this front.

Team USA beat Australia 98-92 in an exhibition Monday in Abu Dhabi in front of a record crowd of 12,217 fans at Etihad Arena. It’s a second straight win over a medal contender for the U.S., but there were a few things to pay attention to that the Aussies, always a very good test in run-ups to big events, showed.

Perhaps most important, Anthony Davis displayed why he’s such a vital player to the American effort. His presence on the inside was a difference in the outcome as he had 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 18 minutes while playing some strong interior defense.

Anthony Edwards continues to show his value in international play, moving into the starting lineup and looking explosive, as has become his trademark, as he put up 14 points.

Though there’s still signs of unfamiliarly, Team USA’s work in practice on smoothing out its offense and finding early signs of rhythm did show. They put in 32 points in the 10-minute first quarter, for example, with LeBron James and Jayson Tatum showing signs of being a dynamic forward combo.

“I think we made a big improvement on both ends of the floor,” Davis said. “You got 12 guys on the team who all elite players, the best guys on their team and so it gets tough when you’re trying to play with each other and trying to figure it out and you’re trying to make the right reads and make the right pass.”

But the Australians, who beat the U.S. in exhibitions in both 2019 and 2021 in moments that exposed weaknesses in those squads, attacked the Americans in the middle and found the softness that remains a significant concern.

Using aggressive drives, interior passes, offensive rebounds and misdirections, the Aussies racked up an astounding 68 points in the paint. That would be a concerning number in a 48-minute NBA game; in a 40-minute FIBA-style game, it’s a flashing red light.

“We gave up a ton of points at the basket back cuts, offensive boards, and so the game shifted and it’s a good lesson for us,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said. “Better to learn that lesson now than later. And this will be a good tape for us to watch.”

Also watching was the Serbian national team including current NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, who took in the game from the stands and stunning fans as he walked through the concourse. Serbia will play Team USA in a friendly on Wednesday and open Olympic play against them on July 28.

He saw Australia get within five points with five minutes left and twice cut it to four points in the final minute. Team USA held them off, thanks to two clutch 3-pointers from Tyrese Haliburton and four free throws from Devin Booker.

Team USA did look better overall on offense than in its win over Canada last week in Las Vegas. It made 12 3-pointers, and the team’s ball movement and organization were improved. But the Americans still turned the ball over 18 times — way above an acceptable number.

Booker had 15 points to lead the Team USA offense.

Australia was led by 20 points from Jock Landale, most of them on baskets in the paint.

“We can’t get comfortable. I think the third quarter we came out and got super comfortable, took our foot off the gas,” Edwards said. “I think the second group shares the ball a lot more than the first group as far as us and myself. So we got to do a better job of getting each other involved.”