USA Basketball lost its first game in 13 years on Saturday, as Australia took down Team USA in an exhibition game by a score of 98-94.
“Some of it is expected with a new group that’s trying to learn about each other and learn a system,” U.S. coach Gregg Popovich said (via ESPN). “So it’s not surprising. But the Aussies gave us a great lesson as far as where we want to be and how you have to play in this kind of a competition.”
The squad has one more exhibition contest (Monday vs. Canada) before the start of the FIBA World Cup. Here’s more from Team USA:
- Derrick White tripped and fell face forward during the game in Australia. Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link) hears that the point guard has passed his first concussion test and suffered no damage to his teeth during the fall. White did need four stitches over his left eye.
- Tony Jones of The Athletic wonders if Donovan Mitchell can carry Team USA. Mitchell has learned so much since coming into the league and Jones examines the play of the former Rookie of the Year runner up.
- Kyle Kuzma recently dropped out of international competition with an ankle injury. He was impressive during his time with the club, as Mike Trudell of NBA.com details.
It was nice of Pop to tell Kuzma that he wasn’t going to make the team so he could drop out of the competition because of a “sore ankle”.
I can’t wait until the Rockets implode this season and come in as a 6 seed only to get bombed on again…you’re the worst kind of troll
Yeah Laker fans are so upset that their now 3rd most important player is coming back to LAL to rest and prepare with the team instead of risking injury or exhaustion in this pointless tournament
It’s so obvious that you’re afraid the Lakers are going to be better than the Rockets this upcoming season. You troll all these articles to try and knock the Lakers team down every chance you get. I wouldn’t want to waste all my time as a Lakers fan searching for any article I could find about the Rockets or any other team just to post negative comments about that team. You’ve got Lakers envy.
Serious Lakers envy…he has to watch 2 ball hogs fight over the ball next year in what could possibly be a .500 season for the Suckits
No, you are wrong. He just hates every time beside the Rockets.
Huge lakers envy!
HWM may be a paid troll, a temporary presence until there’s more news to draw hits to the site. He just seems so joyless!
It’s Dionsis, no?
Lol
I think Dionis(sp?) would need something to draw him back and not much is going on now NBA-wise.