They may have been knocked out of gold medal contention last up against Serbia, but the Australian Boomers still have a wide-open shot at securing their first ever Olympic medal.
They take on Spain, who were knocked out by the USA in the semis, in the bronze medal match. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 12 midnight (AEST).
Final Score
Spain 89
Australia 88
Australia rampaged through the tournament in stunning fashion, whacking the higher-ranked France, Serbia and Lithuania, among others, while going toe-to-toe with the United States, before losing in the final few minutes.
Come the semis, the Aussies faced Serbia again, but couldn’t win when it mattered, going down 87-61 in a match which the Serbs dominated from the opening tip.
Serbia have responded in commanding fashion since their patchy pool round performances and will prove a challenge for the US in the gold medal clash.
Still, the manner in which the Boomers dominated in the pool rounds should give Australian fans some hope against Spain.
At the core of their dominance has been NBA stars Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes and Andrew Bogut. All except Ingles have picked up NBA rings in the past three seasons, and their fast-passing, physical style has underpinned their run through the tournament.
The quintet have been crucial for Australia. Indeed, against the US it was only once these five were rotated that the Americans began to claw back control of the game.
Spain, led by the San Antonio Spurs’ Pau Gasol, are beginning to hit their straps. After surprise early losses to Croatia and Brazil, the world No.2-team have powered through Nigeria, Lithuania, Argentina and France. They performed well against the US, only going down by eight points.
Spain have picked up the silver medal at the previous two Olympics and will be looking to medal again in Gasol’s last Games.
Against Serbia, Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis benched Mills, Dellavedova, Ingles, Baynes and Bogut in the final quarter once the match was out of reach, with this game in mind.
With Dante Exum, Thon Maker and No.1 draft pick Ben Simmons coming through the ranks, the future is bright for Australian basketball. But what better way to signal to the world that the Boomers mean business than by picking up their first ever Olympic silverware?
Prediction
The first quarter will be crucial for the Boomers, who will have taken a hit to their confidence after the Serbia clash. The Serbs burst out of the blocks to dominate the Aussies early, strangling them for space and disrupting their tournament-best shooting.
If the Aussies can head into the first break with their noses in front, they should close out the match by around eight points. Look for Bogut to get physical early against Spain’s big men.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Usually I'd be with you Gnasher - we are world #1 sooks here down under. The stupid amount of crying we do means no one takes it seriously when something genuine like this happens. Having said that... that call was a howler if I ever saw one. And because of all the weeping and gnashing of teeth, one of the best tournaments ever played by the Boomers will be lost in that moment.
Gnasher
Guest
And the gold medal in Freestyle Whinging goes to...Australia! Again.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Plenty of frustration directed at the refs, which is understandable, but in the end it was Australia's poor first half - where they were down by 12 at some stages - which left them with too much ground to cover. Unlike Australia, the second half of the tournament has been great for Spain, who just made it into the knockouts with a win over Argentina after having lost their first two games. They have now been on the podium every one of the past three games.
JVGO
Guest
You need to win a game with good play on the final play not crap like that. Refs should never reward that garbage.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining us. Disappointing for Australia who maybe should have been in the match starting later tonight, but it doesn't get much closer to bronze than one point (from a free throw, with 6 seconds remaining)...
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
For the Aussies, Delly and Andersen provided Mills with some great support, as did Broekhoff who came up with some clutch plays.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Australia will be disappointed at the result, but should direct their emotion towards fixing their first half performance. They were trailing by 12 points at one stage, and while they made it up to lead late in the game - and with 10 seconds to go! - quality teams like Spain should not be given 12 point starts. Andrew Bogut should have provided more as apparently Australia's best, although he appeared to be carrying an injury. He only played 14 minutes all up, fouling out just after half-time. A bronze would have been a great foundation for the future, but 2020 looks particularly bright for the Aussies. Imagine this team, probably sans Bogut, with Simmons, Maker and Exum jockeying for positions.
JVGO
Guest
Dude, refs shouldn't reward a BS out of control drive with a medal, where he dived head first and chucked it up. A total joke.
JVGO
Guest
Worst call in history. Not to mention the other BS calls throughout the night.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
The foul call on Mills could have gone either way - Mills was falling at the time and began to celebrate once the ball went out of bounds - but the referee judged that he impeded Rodriguez. Australia's bridesmaid status in the men's Olympic basketball continues, with four fourth-place finishes and no medals. For Spain, it was a bronze to add to their two silvers from the previous two matches, ending the Gasol era in style. The two best in the match were certainly the two San Antonio Spurs, with Gasol and Mills finishing with 31 and 30 respectively.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Shocking call gifted the game to Spain. The Spanish bloke dived horizontally towards Mills.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Well Australia's heart was questioned after the loss to Serbia, but you couldn't question their heart there. They showed desperation and skill, with Patty Mills shining for the Aussies. In the end, it was Spain's clutch free throw shooting - their last four points were from frees with the clock winding down - which brought them the bronze. Australia had possession with five seconds left, but couldn't compose themselves enough to have a shot. Final score Spain 89 Australia 88
1st&10
Guest
Refs steal bronze from Boomers . -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
JVGO
Guest
What a rip off.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Spain win bronze and Pau Gasol goes out with more silverware!
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Spain have possession. And 9 seconds. And Mills fouls someone in a red shirt. This is just too tense. Rodriguez makes both frees and Spain lead with 5 seconds left. Australia call timeout. Q4 1′ Spain 89 Australia 88
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
There is confusion as everyone waits for Mills to take it. Baynes collects a rebound and puts it in. Australia in the lead by one point, Spain call time out. There is ten seconds to play! Q4 1′ Spain 87 Australia 88
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Gasol makes both, of course, and there is 20 seconds to play. Q4 1′ Spain 87 Australia 86
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Maybe he does. Gasol goes to the line and will shoot two frees. Q4 9′ Spain 85 Australia 86
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Spain has called a timeout. 35 seconds to go. Has Gasol got one big play left in him? Q4 9′ Spain 85 Australia 86