By Aris Barkas / barkas@eurohoops.net
PARIS, France – For 13 minutes Australia was dominating, building a 24-point lead. Ultimately it was not enough against Serbia.
Last season’s FIBA World Cup silver medalists reacted admirably and ended up winning 95-90 against the bronze medalist in Tokyo 2020, claiming a spot in the Olympics semifinals.
Nikola Jokic had the usual dominant all-around performance for his country, as the Joker finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. He also had the two most clutch shots of the tournament for Serbia thus far for the final victory.
Bogdan Bogdanovic produced the Serbian comeback and concluded with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists; Vasilije Micic had 14 points and the same amount of key passes.
On the Australian side, Patty Mills turned into his classic FIBA version, exploding for 26 points and being crucial in creating the first gap, while also forcing overtime. Josh Giddey followed him with 25 points but also committed 6 painful turnovers for his side.
FIBA Patty Mills
It’s almost a fact – not scientifically proven – that some well-known players simply play at a different speed when they play for their teams.
And that’s exactly what happened with Mills setting the tone early, scoring 10 points in the last two minutes of the first quarter, building a 31-17 lead for Australia, and completing a 12-0 run with Dante Exum adding two more points.
The Boomers’ lead jumped to 24 points (46-22) after 13 minutes of action, however the Serbs wouldn’t surrender.
With their own 15-2 run after a vivid timeout by coach Svetislav Pesic, they trimmed the lead to 11 points (48-37) and Australia closed the first half with a 12-point advantage (54-42).
Mills scored 20 points in the first half on 8/11 FG and Giddey added 13, while Jokic had 11.
The Serbian comeback
The push continued for Serbia which made it a four-point game after a three by Bogdanovic (60-56).
Australia took the time out, but nothing changed as Mills turned the ball over and Dobric with one more three trimmed the lead to one (60-59).
The Serbs got the lead (61-60) after a Bogdanovic shot and at the end of the third period, the score was 67-65, as Australia was rattled, scoring just 11 points in the quarter and having in total 15 turnovers.
The “Eagles” of Serbia, as the team is called, pushed the tempo and Vasilije Micic scored in transition after a block of Nikola Milutinov to Mills to extend the lead to six (73-67).
First overtime in Bercy
Still thanks to a Giddey three, Australia tied the score at 78 with three minutes left. Micic answered back with three made free throws (81-78), but the former EuroLeague MVP missed at the line with under 10 seconds of playing time.
Svetislav Pesic finished his available timeouts before Australia’s last shot, banked in by Patty Mills to force overtime. In extra-time, Ognjen Dobric opened with a three-pointer to calm down Serbia.
Jack McVeigh picked and popped from deep, while Duop Reath answered for a 5-0 run by Australia. Nikola Jokic and Patty Mills committed consecutive turnovers down the line, and Australia kept the 90-89 lead before the Joker converted the hook.
Nikola Jokic was clutch once again for the win with a perfect fadeaway, and the Boomers couldn’t come back in the final stretch of the encounter as Josh Giddey committed another turnover.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball