USA Overcome Australia, Sloppy Turnovers in Olympic Basketball Warmup

The United States held on for a 98-92 victory over Australia in an Olympic basketball warmup game in Abu Dhabi. The Americans struggled with sloppy turnovers, committing 18 turnovers in the game, but their bench proved to be the difference maker.

USA’s bench celebrates a big play

Patty Mills connected on a three-pointer from the left wing, pulling the Boomers within six, 86-80, during an 0-for-7 shooting stretch for Team USA. But after Australia missed a three and two point-blank tries to cut the lead further, Tyrese Haliburton connected on corner threes on consecutive possessions for a 92-80 advantage that effectively sealed the game.

Tyrese Haliburton celebrates a three-pointer

Jock Landale was the standout player for Australia, finishing with 20 points and seven offensive rebounds. Anthony Davis had 17 points and seven rebounds and helped the US overcome a stagnant second half.

Anthony Davis goes up for a dunk

USA coach Steve Kerr praised Australia for their competitiveness, saying, “They fought. They were really physical. Took it to us in the last quarter and a half and really made it a game.”

Just as in the Canada game, the US’s so-called second unit - Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo, Davis, and Devin Booker - changed the game. That was the group on the floor when the Americans took a game that was tied at 19-19 with 3:15 left in the first and turned it into a 39-23 lead - a 20-4 run in a span of five minutes.

USA’s second unit celebrates a big play

The strength of the US team is their depth, and they have to utilize their depth to overcome opponents who don’t have the same level of talent.

The second game in the Abu Dhabi showcase pits Serbia and USA - members of the same Olympic pool in Paris - on Wednesday, with the US scheduled for two further exhibition games in London before the Olympics.

Olympic basketball logo

The Top 10 Illinois Basketball 3-Point Shooters of All Time

There have been some great shooters to come through Champaign, but let’s take a look at the greatest three-point shooters in the history of the Illinois basketball program.

Illinois basketball logo

One of the greatest shooters is Matt Heldman, who owns two spots among the top 26 instances where an Illinois player has shot at least 3.0 three-point attempts in a season. His impressive shooting goes deeper than that, though.

Matt Heldman celebrates a three-pointer

Only 26 times in the history of the Illinois basketball program has someone shot at least 40% from three-point range. Heldman is No. 14 and No. 22 on the list of the best three-point shooting percentages from players who averaged at least 3.0 three-point attempts in a season.

Illinois basketball program

For his career, Heldman eclipsed the 40% mark from three-point range, hitting 40.5% in four seasons. When Illinois entered the NCAA tournament, Heldman’s shooting only got better. In four NCAA tournament games, he shot 69.2% from three-point range.

Matt Heldman’s NCAA tournament stats

Heldman was one of the best three-point shooters in program history. Sadly, he passed away in a tragic accident in 1999. His legacy with the Illinois basketball program will never be forgotten.

Illinois basketball program