Serbia vs Australia Player Stats, Box Scores and Result for 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball | August 6
Serbia and Australia squared off in the second quarterfinal of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. Serbia started the game with Filip Petrusev, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Ognjen Dobric, Nikola Jokic and Aleksa Avramovic. The Boomers' starting lineup comprised Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Patty Mills, Nick Kay and Jock Landale.
Giddey came out with great intensity and made a couple of highlight plays in the first five minutes of the game. The Australian point guard gave his team an early 12-8 lead.
Jokic didn't take a single shot in the first five minutes but the three-time NBA MVP scored six quick points coming out of Serbia's first timeout.
Patty Mills knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and exploded with 12 points in the opening period which ensured Australia a 14-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Australia began the second quarter on a 6-0 run with Mills knocking down two more mid-range jumpers. Serbia was hit with an offensive avalanche and the European country had no answers. The Boomers secured a 24-point lead with more than six-and-a-half minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Serbia intensified their efforts after falling behind significantly, reducing the deficit to just 12 points. Australia led Serbia 54-42 going into the half-time. Mills led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field.
Serbia came roaring back in the third quarter
The momentum swung completely in the second half as Serbia stormed back into the game. Nikola Jokic and Co. trailed Australia by just four points after Bogdan Bogdanovic knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:56 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
A couple of minutes later, Bogdanovic's 2-point jumper gave Serbia its first lead of the game at 61-60. Serbia outscored Australia 25-11 in the third quarter and entered the final period with a 67-65 lead.
The two teams exchanged buckets to begin the fourth quarter. Vasilije Micic knocked down a tough 3-pointer with shot clock running down which gave Serbia a four-point lead. Jack McVeigh answered with a clutch 3-pointer on the other end.
The game went down to the wire with Serbia leading 81-80 with 32 seconds remaining on the clock. Micic missed the first of his two free throws but made the second attempt and extended Serbia's lead to two points with 9.8 seconds remaining in the game.
Mills made a tough shot over Jokic under extreme pressure and sent the game into overtime as the scores were tied at 82-82 in regulation.
Jokic proved why he is considered the best player in the world by taking the game to overtime. The three-time NBA MVP made three big plays on the defensive end before knocking down a floater to give Serbia a one-point lead. The Denver Nuggets superstar knocked down another 2-point shot in clutch and willed Serbia to a thrilling 95-90 win in overtime.
Jokic ended the game with 21 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and one block.
Serbia vs Australia Player Stats, Box Scores and Result for 2024 Paris Olympics Basketball
Serbia player stats and box score:
Australia player stats and box score: