Australia shock US basketball team in exhibition ahead of Olympics

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The US national basketball team suffered their second consecutive loss on Monday in the exhibition matches before the Tokyo Olympics as Australia stunned them 91-83.

The US took a loss to Nigeria 90-87 in a previous exhibition match on July 10.

Point guard Damian Lillard scored 22 points against Australia at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

Lillard was followed by Kevin Durant, who had 17 points, while Bradley Beal added 12 for the US.

Leading Australia, Patty Mills got 22 points as forward Joe Ingles finished with 17 and Matisse Thybulle scored 12.

US trio Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday did not play in this match as they were playing for their teams in the ongoing 2021 NBA finals.

Booker, Middleton and Holiday were named members of Team USA for the Olympic Games.

The US -- the defending Olympic champions -- will take on France, Iran, and the Czech Republic in Olympics' Group A.

The multi-sport event in Japan will take place from July 23 to Aug. 8 after being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.