Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
2019 International Basketball series: Australia vs USA, Game 1 |
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| Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne | ||
| Match time: Fulltime | ||
| Australia | USA | |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | SCORE | 102 |
| 20 | Q1 | 22 |
| 23 | Q2 | 22 |
| 18 | Q3 | 32 |
| 25 | Q4 | 26 |
The United States of America have taken a 16-point victory in Game 1 of the international series in front of over 50,000 fans against Australia at Marvel Stadium in what was a highly entertaining game for the most part.
Final score
Australia 86
USA 102
The Australian Boomers are set to take on the USA in a huge two-match series as the Basketball World Cup draws nearer. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Game 1 from 7:30pm (AEST).
In a lot of ways, this series isn’t what it was supposed to be, with so many NBA players on both sides of the game pulling out of these matches and the World Cup.
On the Australian side, Jonah Bolden was the latest to join the exodus, while virtually none of what would be considered the USA’s best roster have made themselves available for the trip to Australia, or the World Cup in China, which starts in just over a week.
The Aussies come into this series on the back of a two-match series against Canada, which they split one-all.
While Canada were far better than anyone though they might be, the Aussies really struggled for on court chemistry, and their defence clearly needs work, however, the improvement between Game 1 and 2 was clear to see.
The Boomers will be better for the run, and should play with a full big man rotation for the first time in these games, which means between Andrew Bogut and Aron Baynes, they will always pack a punch in the paint, which was an area they struggled in during the games against Canada.
Even without the USA at full strength, this still shapes as a huge challenge. It’s a complete NBA roster, with some of the brightest and best up and coming talents going around.
Kemba Walker locking into the point will have a huge roll to play for the visitors, while Donovan Mitchell will pack the scoring punch.
His battle with Matthew Dellavedova at the two spot will be fun to watch, with Delly known for his scrappy defence.
What Australia must get is production off the bench, with players like Chris Goulding, Mitch Creek and Cameron Gliddon needing to score and shoot the ball well, which was another area the Boomers struggled with against Canada.
Prediction
The USA have been struggling with chemistry issues, and will take a while to get used to the time difference. They did scratch past Spain, but I’m going to take Australia in a close one.
Australia by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 1 in this Australia-USA series from 7:30pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
TV: Live, SBS Viceland
Online: Live, SBS on Demand
Australia (expected)
Point guard: Patty Mills
Shooting guard: Matthew Dellavedova
Small forward: Joe Ingles
Power forward: Jock Landale
Centre: Aron Baynes
Bench: David Barlow, Andrew Bogut, Mitch Creek, Cameron Gliddon, Chris Goulding, Nick Kay, Nathan Sobey
USA (expected)
Point guard: Kemba Walker
Shooting guard: Donovan Mitchell
Small forward: Harrison Barnes
Power forward: Khris Middleton
Centre: Mason Plumlee
Bench: Jaylen Brown, Joe Harris, Kyle Kuzma, Brook Lopez, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Myles Turner, Derrick White
Rellum
Roar Guru
I like our jersey. Too bad you can't buy a Joe Ingles one.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of Game 1 in this international series between Australia and the USA. Hopefully you enjoyed it. I'll be back at 2pm (AEST) on Saturday for Game 2. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ha, well done on that. Thanks Damo.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The United States of America have taken a 16-point victory in Game 1 of the international series in front of over 50,000 fans against Australia at Marvel Stadium in what was a highly entertaining game for the most part. The first half of the game, and most of the third term, were fairly evenly matched between the two sides. The USA threatened to run away with it at various times during the first half, but the Boomers continually found ways to hit back and stay in the game, going into the halftime break just a point behind. The visitors ran away with the game during the third though, ending up 15 points ahead at the final change, a margin which was never going to be run down by the Aussies, who hung tough during the fourth and refused to let it blow out. The home side had some impressive signs, chief among them the form of Chris Goulding, as he led all scorers with 19 from the bench, while Patty Mills also had 19, and the improvement of Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes was also good to see. The USA will only improve on the performance though as they continue to improve team chemistry through these games, and on the back of Kemba Walker's 23, they were far too good in Game 1. They will enter Game 2 as heavy favourites on Saturday once again. AUS - 86 USA - 102
Damo
Guest
Cheers Scott, very enjoyable game. I'll just take my points spread and go home
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That's the end of that. No more points in this one, and the USA have beaten Australia by 16, but that was, until the end of the third term, a pretty entertaining game between two strong outfits. And the best bit? We get to do it all again on Saturday. AUS - 86 USA - 102
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Both free throws made there. AUS - 86 USA - 102
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Into the final 60 seconds we go. Mitch Creek under the basket, but that's no good, and Landale misses as well on the offensive board. USA back up the floor through Kuzma, then it's Middleton to Barnes and he misses on the turnaround jumper. A foul on the rebound and we will walk the floor for some free shots. AUS - 84 USA - 102
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Landale into the paint hee, but he can't find points, before Jaylen Brown drives from the corner and misses, but gets it back after a long offensive rebound and scores. AUS - 84 USA - 102
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Apologies for the outage in updates. Well and truly into garbage time now as we break for a timeout. AUS - 84 USA - 100
Scott Pryde
Expert
CROWD: 51, 218 Huge. Enormous.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Sobey makes the extra. AUS - 78 USA - 93
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The USA with a miss, then Sobey passes around the defence to his former teammate Creek and he lays it in. AUS - 77 USA - 93
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Australia turn it over once more, and they look like they don't know each other out there at times, before Brown throws one down. Sobey now with a jumper. AUS - 75 USA - 93
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The Aussies with a bucket, then it's Walker into the lane again and he makes another one off the glass. AUS - 73 USA - 91
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Buckets both ways now, Bogut with a big throwdown for the Boomers, before Walker makes a tough three. This is threatening to blow out. AUS - 71 USA - 89
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Barnes finally misses a three for the USA, then it's Bogut into the low block and he misses on the step back. AUS - 69 USA - 84
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Couple of fouls on the Boomers in defence here. AUS - 69 USA - 84
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Timeout on the floor. AUS - 69 USA - 84