Final, 98-88 USA: That’s the end of the contest. Team USA wins by 10 after Australia leaves it all on the floor.
USA started slowly and entered halftime with a rare deficit. But the Americans’ defense and shooting improved in the second half, as Australia’s deteriorated.
Anthony led the way with a game-high 31 points. As if becoming USA Basketball’s record scorer in the Olympics wasn’t enough, Melo dragged his team to victory with a scoring performance for the ages.
Irving also was instrumental in the win. The USA point guard finished with 19 points.
Dellavedova and Mills played starring roles for Australia. Mills had 30 points, hitting 11 of 21 shots, including six 3-pointers. Dellavedova had 11 points and 11 assists.
Team USA is a perfect three for three at Rio 2016. The Americans return to action Friday when they face Serbia. Expect another tough test but not necessarily a scare like this one.
Fourth quarter, :17, 96-88 USA: Dellavedova fouls Irving, who hits two more free throws.
Australia is determined to remain on the court as long as possible.
Fourth quarter, :27, 94-88 USA: Irving hits one of two free throws, effectively sealing the win.
Fourth quarter, :51, 93-88 USA: Anthony misses, but Paul George snags an offensive rebound, and Australia is forced to commit a foul.
Fourth quarter, 1:30, 93-86 USA: Irving hits a three from the corner. That could be the death blow for Australia.
Fourth quarter, 3:32, 88-80 USA: Anthony hits another 3-pointer. He has hit nine of 14 shots from behind the arc.
Fourth quarter, 3:57, 85-80 USA: Now Irving and Mills hit back-to-back layups. Irving has 11 points, and Mills has 26.
Australia shows no intention of fading away in the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter, 5:40, 80-76 USA: Irving and Dellavedova trade layups. USA’s lead remains at four.
Fourth quarter, 7:08, 78-74 USA: Anthony hits two threes in succession. He now has 25 points so far.
Fourth quarter, 8:51, 72-72: Australia starts the fourth with some hot shooting by Ingles and Anderson, but Anthony restores the tie with a layup.
End of third quarter, 70-67 USA: Team USA outscored Australia by eight points in the third quarter and has the edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Third quarter, :32, 70-67 USA: Green hits a fadeaway as he’s fouled. Of course, he flexes.
Green hits the free throw, and Team USA leads by three, with the quarter winding down.
Third quarter, 1:33: 70-65 USA: Green appears to be the victim of a goaltend, but the referees decline to award him the basket. Oh, right. Olympic rules allow for these kinds of things.
Third quarter, 3:51, 63-63: Bogut commits a hard foul on Durant.
The game is growing increasingly physical, as the teams trade hard screens and purposeful fouls.
Third quarter, 4:59, 60-60: It’s tied again.
Cousins commits a foul and is back on the bench. Again.
Third quarter, 7:39, 58-54 USA: Irving banks a shot off the glass.
Team USA leads by four, thanks to a 9-0 run to start the third quarter.
Third quarter, 8:38, 54-54: USA scores a quick five points out of the gates, wiping out Australia’s lead within two minutes of the restart.
Halftime, 54-49 Australia: That’s the end of the first half. Australia leads by five.
The upset watch officially is on. Team USA hasn’t trailed at halftime of an Olympic game in 12 years. As they say down under: “struth” (meaning gosh or unbelievable).
Anthony leads all players with 17 points. He needs help. Durant is struggling from the floor, hitting just two of his 10 field-goal attempts. Team USA has hit 10 of 21 three-point attempts but just seven of 25 two-pointers. Brutal.
Dellavedova has nine assists at the break for Australia. Mills, Bogut and Andersen all are in double figures. If it seems like all of Australia’s shots are falling, it’s because most of them are.
Second quarter, :53, 49-46: Three consecutive 3-pointers has Australia’s lead at six.
Draymond Green buried a three, but Mills answered with one of his own. Anthony then responded from long range.
Second quarter, 3:28, 46-39 Australia: Frustration reigns on Team USA, as Australia has found and exploited openings in the American defense.
Mills and Bogut both have 11 points. David Andersen has eight. The Aussies are spreading the ball around nicely.
Second quarter, 5:50, 41-36 Australia: Mills hits a three, and Australia now has a five-point lead.
Second quarter, 6:25, 36-35 USA: Bogut scores twice in succession, reducing USA’s lead to one. Then Australia’s defense forces USA into a shot-clock violation.
Second quarter, 7:40, 36-31 USA: Irving lays the ball off the glass, and Cousins slams it home.
Cousins then commits his third foul of the game and heads back to the bench. He’s not happy about that call.
End of first quarter, 29-29: The game’s deadlocked after one quarter of action.
Australia shot to an early lead, but Team USA improved its defense and mounted a run of its own.
First quarter, 1:07, 29-27 USA: Anthony hits another three, giving Team USA the lead. Finally.
Anthony has 14 points in the game and has hit an Olympic milestone. The New York Knicks forward is the top scorer in U.S. Olympic history.
Take a bow, Melo.
First quarter, 2:01, 27-23 Australia: DeAndre Jordan has entered the game and helped Team USA cut into Australia’s lead. He has three points and four rebounds in just under six minutes of action.
First quarter, 3:36, 24-17 Australia: Bogut hits two buckets from the post, as Australia extends its lead to seven.
First quarter, 5:42, 18-15 Australia: It’s bombs away in Rio, as the teams rely on their long-range shooting.
Mills has hit all three 3-pointers he has taken so far.
Anthony is carrying Team USA so far, hitting four out of five shots.
First quarter, 7:34, 10-9, Australia: The Boomers have come out flying, taking an early lead after the first two-and-a-half minutes.
Tipoff: USA-Australia is under way.
Australia has started five players whose day jobs are in the NBA.
Pregame: Tipoff is just a few minutes away.
Here are the starting lineups:
United States
Kevin Durant, F
Carmelo Anthony, F
DeMarcus Cousins, C
Paul George, G
Kyrie Irving, G
Australia
Aron Baynes, F
Paddy Mills, F
Andrew Bogut, C
Matthew Dellavedova, G
Joe Ingles, G
5:30 p.m. ET: The United States men’s basketball team has warmed up for its first true test at the 2016 Olympics.
Team USA will face Australia on Wednesday in the preliminary round in a game many expect to be more competitive than the Americans’ first two outings in Rio.
Australia’s roster includes six NBA players. Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova are familiar names to most basketball fans.
Whether the Boomers can keep up with star-studded Team USA remains to be seen.
Keep it right here for live score updates, highlights and analysis from USA vs. Australia.
Thumbnail photo via Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports Images
