Team Australia stunned Team USA on Saturday, snapping their 78-game winning streak in international competition with a 98-94 victory in their exhibition game on Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell downplayed the loss, saying that the loss really mean anything in the grand scheme of things.
“To be honest, this game doesn’t mean anything,” Mitchell said per Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Mitchell, technically, is correct since this was just a tune-up match as they prepare for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which begins on August 31.
Still, the no-bearing contest did not stop Aussie fans from flooding in at the Marvel Stadium. The showdown between the Australians and the Americans set the record for most fans ever to attend a basketball game in Australia.
Likewise, everyone in attendance was fired up to see their home-country Boomers snatch a victory over the Americans, something that other teams have failed to do in the last 78 instances.
San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills had a marvelous fourth quarter to ultimately close out Team USA in the fourth quarter. Mills scored 10 of his 13 fourth quarter points in the last three minutes, including a massive top of the key jumper to put Australia up by six with a little over a minute remaining. The 31-year old Aussie, who has been playing with the Boomers since 2007, finished with a game-high 30 points.
Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker led the way for Team USA with 22 points, while Harrison Barnes added 20. Mitchell, himself, scored 12 points in the loss.
As much as Mitchell downplayed their loss, we'll see if this water-down USA squad can prove their naysayers wrong when the real games begin next week.
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