By Darnell "Playmaker" Sallins
Team USA men' national basketball team moved to 2-0 after holding off Australia on Monday afternoon. Team USA had to fight off a late rally by Australia to win 98-92 in Abu Dhabi.
Six players of Team USA scored in double-figures led by Anthony Davis with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Devin Booker added 16 points and was the closer for Team USA on Monday. Booker connected a jumper with 32 seconds left in game and going 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Anthony Edwards, who got the start on Monday against Australia, got the U.S. off to a hot start in the beginning. Edwards scored 11 of the USA's first 19 points in the first quarter when USA scored 32 points in the opening quarter. Head Coach, Steve Kerr also inserted Jayson Tatum into the lineup with Edwards replacing Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker.
Team USA looked better on offense in the first half against Australia than they looked against Canada last Wednesday. Team USA scored 53 points in the first half on Monday compared to scoring 41 points in the first half against Canada.
The second half against Australia was a different tale. Team USA built a 24-point lead midway through the third quarter.
And the Australia started coming back.
Australia went on a 20-11 run to close third quarter and cut U.S. lead down to 15 going into the fourth quarter.
The Australia's comeback continued in the fourth quarter. Turnovers by Team USA leading to quick transition baskets for Australia and all of a sudden, the big lead trimmed all the way down to 4.
Booker and Tyrese Haliburton closed the deal against Australia. Booker scoring 6 points in the finals seconds as well as Haliburton scoring 6 points on back-to-back three-point shots.
Now Team USA prepares for an Olympic preview on Wednesday against Serbia led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Team USA and Serbia are in Group C for the Paris Olympics so Wednesday's Showcase will be worth watching.
Wednesday's game will be aired on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) at 12PM Eastern Time.
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