Dante Exum’s injury cloud cleared as Patty Mills shines in Olympic warm-up thriller against France

The Boomers can breathe a sigh of relief as key man is cleared of injury after a thrilling Olympic warm-up win over France, with veteran star Patty Mills putting on a show.

Tokyo Patty Mills has landed in Paris.

The veteran NBA point guard who led the Boomers to a historic bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games has turned up in France on a mission.

Wall-to-wall French flags are being waved furiously by an army of foot-stomping, full-throated, singing, dancing, Mexican-waving, chanting, drum-beating, wolf-whistling, absolutely bonkers supporters of Les Bleus before the Boomers’ final exhibition game.

Patty Mills just stares at the floor.

He doesn’t look at his audience. As if he’s in a trance. He’s alone and under the hoop before tip-off at CO’Met Arena d’Orleans. A one-man calm in a storm. Just keeps staring at the floor.

His hands are on his hips, his eyes are glazed, he wears yellow rocket shoes. Still breathing?

He’s quiet and still. Then he snaps out of it. Blinks. Eyes are up. He slaps his thigh and gets to work. Starts his shift with a magician’s no-look pass for a Josh Giddey bucket.

Conjures a total and utter blinder in the Boomers’ pulsating 83-82 win.

Patty Mills shone as the Boomers beat France in a thriller. Picture: Adam Head

The only downside to an otherwise spectacular night was when Dante Exum dislocated his finger late in the second quarter, however, he has avoided disaster in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, with scans clearing him of a finger fracture.

The Dallas Maverick didn’t play in the second half of Australia’s final warm-up game against France and there were concerns it would impact his Olympic campaign.

“[Exum] suffered a compound dislocation of the right index finger in the game.” said Australian Olympic team chef de mission Anna Meares.

“X-rays have confirmed that there was no fracture and he is expected to continue on the path to compete at the Games.”

Suspect that Andrew Bogut no longer thinks the Australian captain should be coming off the bench after his will-o-the-wisp masterclass of 29 minutes, 24 points, three assists and three-of-seven from beyond the stripe.

“News to me, mate,” Mills said of Bogut’s well-publicised opinion. “I’m head down with the task at hand now. Being able to get this team on the right path to achieve something very special.

“The most important thing for this group is our ability to be in the trenches together and feel that strength in the room.”

Enduring memories of an extraordinary evening? First, Mills’ supremacy wizardry. A 35-year-old playing like there’s a typo on his birth certificate. The silky hands, the quick feet.

Second, the soul-stirring audience. The extraordinary atmosphere for an exhibition game. If this was a taste of the real Olympics, we’re in for a wild old ride. Folks were going off. Like 10,000 frogs in a sock.

Dante Exum has been cleared of injury. Picture: Adam Head

Third, the Boomers’ full-blown celebrations when Dyson Daniels hooked home the winning basket in the final second. The message from the Boomers was clear. If you can beat France, you can beat anyone.

Comparing these Boomers with the bronze medallists from Tokyo, Mills replied: “We’re better. We did something special in Tokyo but we acknowledge that we don’t want to be that team anymore. We want to be better. The grit of this team, the toughness, I believe we’re better and we’re able to accomplish something more than we did in Tokyo.”

Coach Brian Goorjian was ecstatic about defeating Les Bleus but downcast “definitely concerned” when admitting Exum needed scans to determine his availability for the Games.

“The first time I saw Patty step on the floor, age is out of there. He hasn’t lost anything,” Goorjian said ahead of the Boomers’ opening clash with Spain on Saturday at Lille’s Pierre Mauroy Stadium.

“We’re playing a brand of basketball that gives us a chance. We play hard every possession. We’re not perfect but I just know what the other teams think. When they shake hands and get on the bus … ‘Those guys play hard and play together.’ I’m proud of that.”

Originally published as Dante Exum’s injury cloud cleared as Patty Mills shines in Olympic warm-up thriller against France