Undefeated, but no longer unchallenged.
The U.S. Olympic basketball team wrapped up its exhibition schedule with its toughest test, pulling away to beat Australia 87-76 Tuesday night in its final game before heading to Beijing.
The United States led by only four points nearly halfway through the third quarter and was up by seven midway through the fourth against an Australian team that was resting its best player, Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
The Americans relied on an aggressive defensive effort to overcome a horrendous night from 3-point range and the free-throw line, the same areas that proved costly in their semifinal loss to Greece in the world championships two years ago.
Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and LeBron James had 16 for the Americans, who finished 3-of-18 from three-point range and 20-of-33 (61 percent) at the foul line.
Patrick Mills and Chris Anstey, who had a first-half altercation with Wade, each scored 13 points for Australia.
The U.S. team seemed in control after allowing one basket in the final 5½ minutes of the first half to open a 44-29 lead. But the Americans left that defensive intensity in the locker room, allowing a number of open 3-pointers and uncontested drives to the basket.
The Australians outscored the Americans 13-2 to open the third quarter, pulling to 46-42 on David Barlow’s layup with 6:52 remaining in the period. The United States regrouped behind Wade and Carmelo Anthony, rebuilding the lead to double digits headed to the fourth.
Michael Redd and Wade had layups to open the scoring in the fourth, pushing the U.S. lead to 69-55. Australia scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within seven with still half the period left, making the upset seem possible. The crowd even got behind the Australians, loudly booing a call that overruled what seemed to a potential three-point play for them on an offensive rebound.
The Americans got their running game going again, and Wade had some easy baskets as they pulled away for their closest victory. A 21-point win over Russia was the previous closest game for the Americans, who came in averaging 110.8 points and shooting 64.2 percent from the field.
The United States faces host China on Sunday in its Olympic opener.
Bogut, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft, wanted more time to rest a sore right ankle that has been bothering him, but said he expects to be ready by the opener against Croatia on Sunday.
The Australians threw a scare into defending gold medalist Argentina in an earlier friendly, building a 19-point lead in the third quarter before losing 95-90.
They started well in this game, with Mills fearlessly driving to the basket and helping Australia lead by four on a couple of occasions in the first quarter before the Americans rallied to grab a 22-19 lead.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski started the second quarter with a lineup of James, Kobe Bryant, Wade, Anthony and Deron Williams. Australia wasn’t intimidated by that unit, with Wade and Anstey jawing after Anstey fouled Wade away the ball and the players got tangled when the U.S. guard got up.
Australia cut it to 26-25 on David Andersen’s basket with 5:36 remaining in the half, then the small unit’s pressure defense set in and made it hard for the Australians to even take shots.
The Americans forced eight turnovers in the period led by James, who was all over the court coming up with steals and blocks. He scored eight straight points to make it 37-25, then swatted a shot into the seats about a minute later.
Australia finally ended its drought when Mills went all the way for a layup with 1:51 to go, but the Americans came back with a steal by James leading to his own bucket. The U.S. lead was 44-29 at the break.
Credit: Associated Press
