Australian Boomers stun Team USA in Melbourne with Patty Mills the star
They've finally done it! Australia had played Team USA 27 times since 1964 and never won. But an insane performance from superstar Patty Mills broke the drought.
And Australia has 12 new heroes to celebrate after captain Patty Mills inspired the Boomers to a historic drought-breaking win over USA Basketball.
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP THE ACTION + SEE WHAT THE COACHES SAID
Mills splashed a game-high 30 points to deliver the first ever Boomers win over Team USA, who had not lost on the international arena since going down to Greece in 2016.
Team USA had never been beaten in Australia, riding a 30-0 record going in, until Mills’ mob supercharged the Boomers bid for World Cup glory.Australia ran out victorious, 98-94, in front of a record basketball crowd of 52,079 fans at Marvel Stadium.
The Boomers made history.
GRIT AND GOLD
NOTHING brings confidence like hustle, be it with or without the basketball the Boomers upped the ante against USA Basketball with Jock Landale, Aron Baynes and Andrew Bogut attacking the glass.
After having their colours lowered in the intensity department in the first of two international friendlies in Melbourne the Boomers made the adjustment and toasted success.
Boomers bolter Landale, who came into the squad on the fringes, looks to have cemented his place in the starting line-up following the Melbourne native’s standout internationals against Canada and USA.
It bodes well for the national team's World Cup bid in China which tips off against Canada on September 1 where physicality and pressure creates points and rebounds.
Australia scored 46 of its 98 points in the paint, including 11 second-chance points.
Impressively, the Boomers also outrebounded the world’s best basketball team 41-35 in an emphatic performance.
Patyty Mills was the difference.
BIGGIE SMALLS WHAT a luxury - and headache, potentially - it is for Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis to have weapons of all shapes and sizes going into the World Cup next month and ultimately, the 2020 Olympics.
The smalls did the job last Thursday night with Patty Mills and Chris Goulding splashing 19 points apiece but yesterday the bigs got in on the act at Marvel Stadium with Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes and Jock Landale keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Bogut led all Australian scorers to half-time while Baynes and Landale kept finding ways to contribute under immense and desperate USA defence.
The Boomers’ versatility, at both ends of the floor, makes the Lemanis’s men an incredibly difficult scout for opposition teams, most notably World Cup medal contenders USA, Serbia and Greece.
Joe Ingles was crucial in the win.
JOE GETS JINGLE BACK
AUSTRALIA needs Joe Ingles firing at the World Cup and, after a meek outing last Thursday, the Boomers and Utah Jazz sharpshooter roared back into form with a stylish and rounded display.
The South Australian-born adopted Melburnian, who USA Basketball star and Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell described as the "heart and soul" of the national team, energised the record crowd of 52,079 with clutch buckets down the stretch, including the go-ahead three to pave the way to victory.
The Boomers will head to the World Cup full of confidence.
GAZE GETS SWEPT UP IN WIN
Aussie basketball great Andrew Gaze says the Boomers' historic win over the USA should "shock the world".
"This really is amazing," Gaze said on SBS's coverage.
"What a statement from the Boomers!"
The win comes just a week out from the start of the world cup, where Australia hopes to break through for a medal.
"It should shock the world," Gaze said of Saturday's result.
"What a turnaround from Australia from a week ago.
"What a turnaround from Australia from two days ago.
"It snaps a 66-game winning streak … what an historical moment for Australian basketball."
Andrej Lemanis was full of praise for his team.
BOGUT: 'WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN BEAT ANYBODY'
BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis has heaped praise on Australia's character and resilience to claw back and create history against Team USA in Melbourne.
Team USA threatened to bust the game when an emphatic Jayson Tatum dunk put the visitors up 10 points in the third quarter but unlike last Thursday night's the Boomers "got in the trenches" and responded.
Australia had never beaten Team USA in 27 previous attempts but Patty Mills powered the team to victory with 30 points, including the Boomers' last 10 points.
"There was a run, and we managed to pull together," Lemanis said.
"The chemistry was good, we stuck with it, we got in the trenches and started playing some defence and got going from that end of the floor which is how you build belief as well."
Andrew Bogut: "We feel like we can beat anybody in the world."
Australia will go into its World Cup campaign, which tips off on September 1 against Canada in China, confident after inflicting Team USA's first international loss in 13 years.
Australia superstar Andrew Bogut was proud to help the Boomers create history.
Bogut starred alongside Mills with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
"We feel like we can beat anybody in the world," Bogut said.
"Guys in this locker room get pi--ed off when we lose, it's been great so far and we just got to carry this confidence into Canada, into Lithuania, into Senegal and onwards."
Team USA clamped down on Chris Goulding after the Boomers sharpshooter poured in 19 points last Thursday night.
"I pretty much figured that, from the second I stepped on court, they were almost guarding me out of bounds," Goulding who ended with five points, said.
"But that’s great, we utilised that to put me in the corner and drag out another defender, let Patty get off, let Joe get a lot more of the ball in his hands so that’s fine.
Goulding's form against Team USA could see the 30-year-old attract interest from NBA clubs.
Boomers great Shane Heal secured an NBA contract in 1996 off the back of a huge performance against Dream Team II and a strong Atlanta Olympics.
"He's really improved at putting the ball on the floor and not just being a three-point shooter and that’s the evolvement he has to have,” Heal said.
"I’d love to see him get an opportunity in the NBA."
Asked about the possibility of a scout calling, Goulding deadpanned: "Are they calling are they? I’ll pick up."
Gregg Popovich's team tasted a rare defeat.
Updates
Andrew Gaze: Boomers win 'should shock world'
Ben Broad
Aussie basketball great Andrew Gaze says the Boomers' historic win over the USA should "shock the world".
The one-time Seton Hall and NBA shooter – who went on to become the biggest name in Australia basketball – couldn't help but get caught up in the emotion at Marvel Stadium as the Boomers snatched a 98-94 win.
"This really is amazing," Gaze said on SBS's coverage.
"What a statement from the Boomers!"
The win comes just a week out from the start of the world cup, where Australia hopes to win a medal.
"It should shock the world," gaze said of Saturday's result.
"What a turnaround from Australia from a week ago.
"What a turnaround from Australia from two days ago.
"It snaps a 66-game winning streak … what an historical moment for Australian basketball."
THANKS
Michael Randall
Cheers for hanging with me guys.
I feel privileged to have witnessed history.
Who would have thought we'd every beat Team USA?
Catch you at the Worlds.
Mick
PATTY MILLS IS A NATIONAL HERO
Michael Randall
San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills absolutely served it up to Team USA and his NBA coach Gregg Popovich.
The little dynamo caught fire in the second half, scoring from all over the floor with 23 points, including a 10-point burst in the last three minutes that put the game to bed.
Part of history Patty, part of history!
Joe Ingles thanked the huge crowd for getting behind the Boomers in the final term. "Everyone who came out here, it was a joint effort by all. It was amazing to have 50-odd thousand people here."
INGLES: THANKS GUYS
Ben Broad
Joe Ingles thanked the huge crowd for getting behind the Boomers in the final term. "Everyone who came out here, it was a joint effort by all. It was amazing to have 50-odd thousand people here."
ALL OVER: BOOMERS 98 V TEAM USA 94
Michael Randall
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
The Boomers win.
Patty Mills is a national hero.
30 POINTS IN AN INSANE SECOND HALF PERFORMANCE.
We've just witnessed history.
BOOMERS 97 V TEAM USA 94 - 42 SECONDS LEFT
Michael Randall
Mills with the jumper straightaway and there's three points in it.
He's up to 29. Insane stuff.
Mitchell hit a three and then Team USA forced a shot clock violation.
Chance to tie it here. DEEEEEE-FENCE
BOOMERS 95 V TEAM USA 91 1.30 LEFT
Michael Randall
Mills with 27 – he's taken over.
BOOMERS 93 V TEAM USA 89 1.56 LEFT
Michael Randall
Mills again, little pull up from the right side, fed by Bogut.
BOOMERS 91 TEAM USA 87: TIMEOUT - 2.57 LEFT
Michael Randall
Patty Mills just banked in an iso straightaway three and it's a four point margin with under three minutes on the clock.
I might fall out the window of the press box if we win…
Anthony Seibold says the pressures of coaching the NRL’s flagship club had taken a toll on him and his family as well as slanderous rumour mongering as he opened up on his Brisbane exit.
