Australia’s basketball team Boomers face off against Tokyo Olympic favourites USA in semi-final

A basketball game for the ages! Australia’s Boomers face off against the star-studded US Dream Team in nail-biting semi-final in  Tokyo as they attempt to win their first ever Olympic medal

  • Boomers face the USA in semi-finals of Tokyo Olympic Games on Thursday
  • Australia are looking for its first ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball
  • Patty Mills will go head to head with new Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant
  • USA are strong favourites with plethora of NBA All Star talent on its roster  

The Boomers hold a narrow lead late in the first half in the titanic Olympic semi-final showdown with the USA.

Australia’s dominant start comes off the back of hot shooting from Joe Ingles and Chris Goulding. 

Both have two threes through the early exchanges, while Durant has 15 points for the Americans. The former NBA MVP does have two fouls however. 

‘He’s the best scorer in the world in my opinion, and he will go down as one of the greatest of all time,’ former NBA star and Boomer Andrew Bogut said on commentary of Durant. 

Despite matchup problems with the superior length of the Americans, Australia has provided the bigger issues early in the Olympic semi-final with excellent outside shooting. 

Despite the lead, Boomers captain Patty Mills has just 7 points on 2/8 shooting. 

The USA have started slowly in each of their games so far at the Olympics, usually coming back with a strong second half. 

The Boomers take on the might of the USA in the semi-final of the men’s basketball at the Olympic Games on Thursday afternoon in search of the country’s first ever medal

Australia hold a double digit lead through mid-way through the second quarter after hot shooting from Joe Ingles and Chris Goulding

Australia hold a double digit lead through mid-way through the second quarter after hot shooting from Joe Ingles and Chris Goulding 

Despite matchup problems with the superior length of the Americans, Australia has provided the bigger issues early in the Olympic semi-final with excellent outside shooting

Despite matchup problems with the superior length of the Americans, Australia has provided the bigger issues early in the Olympic semi-final with excellent outside shooting

The USA, who have won the last three Olympic golds, are heavy favourites heading into the match against the Boomers who are without Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes. 

Australia thrashed Argentina by 38 points en-route to the semis while America overturned a double-digit deficit against Spain to book their place in the final four thanks to 29 from Durant.    

USA coach Gregg Popovich will be looking to lessen the influence of his former point guard Mills who he coached for nine years at the San Antonio Spurs, winning a championship together. 

Popovich hailed Mills as a ‘special’ person ahead of their showdown in the Olympic semi-finals on Thursday. 

‘I’ve said so many things about Patty Mills that his head is huge already,’ Popovich joked to reporters after he signed with the Nets Wednesday.

‘He’s a terrific, unique basketball player with a heart as big as this building. He loves his country; he loves his teammates. He’s their leader and off the court he’s an even better person than he is on the court. So, he’s pretty special.’

Patty Mills will go head to head with new Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant looking to push Australia into an unlikely gold medal playoff appearance

Patty Mills will go head to head with new Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant looking to push Australia into an unlikely gold medal playoff appearance

Mills guards Durant at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 - the pair will face off in the 2020 Tokyo semi-finals before linking up as teammates with the Brooklyn Nets

Mills guards Durant at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 – the pair will face off in the 2020 Tokyo semi-finals before linking up as teammates with the Brooklyn Nets

USA coach Gregg Popovich will be looking to lessen the influence of his former point guard Mills who he coached for nine years at the San Antonio Spurs

USA coach Gregg Popovich will be looking to lessen the influence of his former point guard Mills who he coached for nine years at the San Antonio Spurs

Mills said he owes his development as both a player and person to Popovich, who himself is a hugely outspoken person in the media about his beliefs. 

‘He’s obviously meant a great deal to me for a very long time — a decade,’ the Boomers captain said.

‘It’s fair to say he’s helped shape me into who I am today on the court and off the court. We’ve been through a lot together. I’ve got a lot to thank him for.

‘Now when you get to this situation and we’re both representing our countries, which we’re both so passionate about, it’s a great opportunity.’ 

A loss would still see the Boomers in position to bring home a first men’s Olympic medal in the sport.     



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