Team USA falls to Australia for second straight pre-Olympic basketball exhibition loss
Stefan Bondy, New York Daily News
Team USA falls to Australia for second straight pre-Olympic basketball exhibition loss
Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America/TNS
A USA Basketball logo is shown on center court before an exhibition game between Nigeria and the United States at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images/TNS)
Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America/TNS
A USA Basketball logo is shown on center court before an exhibition game between Nigeria and the United States at Michelob ULTRA Arena ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images/TNS)
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
David Goldman
— It’s the first time since 1998 that the finals will be played without LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan or Dwyane Wade.
— It’s the first time since 1983 that nobody in the NBA Finals has been, or will be, a teammate of Shaquille O’Neal. You read that correctly. Every title series from 1984 through 2020 featured at least one player who had been (or would eventually be) teammates with O’Neal, a list that includes names like Greg Kite, John Salley, Byron Scott, Steve Kerr, Leandro Barbosa, Danny Green and Matt Barnes (along with everyone he played with on the 1995 Orlando Magic, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 Los Angeles Lakers teams, and the 2006 Miami Heat). Though there is one technicality at play here: Phoenix guard Chris Paul and O’Neal were All-Star Game teammates.
— Of the 12 referees working this series, three are in the NBA Finals for the first time. Courtney Kirkland, James Williams and Sean Wright are all set to make their finals debuts, though Wright was an alternate for the 2019 finals.
David Goldman
— It’s the first time since 1998 that the finals will be played without LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan or Dwyane Wade.
— It’s the first time since 1983 that nobody in the NBA Finals has been, or will be, a teammate of Shaquille O’Neal. You read that correctly. Every title series from 1984 through 2020 featured at least one player who had been (or would eventually be) teammates with O’Neal, a list that includes names like Greg Kite, John Salley, Byron Scott, Steve Kerr, Leandro Barbosa, Danny Green and Matt Barnes (along with everyone he played with on the 1995 Orlando Magic, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 Los Angeles Lakers teams, and the 2006 Miami Heat). Though there is one technicality at play here: Phoenix guard Chris Paul and O’Neal were All-Star Game teammates.
— Of the 12 referees working this series, three are in the NBA Finals for the first time. Courtney Kirkland, James Williams and Sean Wright are all set to make their finals debuts, though Wright was an alternate for the 2019 finals.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Mark J. Terrill
Phoenix guard Chris Paul is in his 16th NBA season. This is his first finals.
It is a historic wait.
He has played in 123 playoff games without ever reaching the finals, the third-most in NBA history behind Paul Millsap (129) and Al Horford (124).
And he could join a very small club. Only five players have won their first championship in their 16th season or later; Juwan Howard and Kevin Willis won championships in their 18th seasons (not counting the 1988-89 season that Willis missed), Jason Kidd got the elusive ring in his 17th season, and Dwight Howard and Gary Payton finally got their hands on the Larry O’Brien Trophy in their 16th seasons.
Mark J. Terrill
Phoenix guard Chris Paul is in his 16th NBA season. This is his first finals.
It is a historic wait.
He has played in 123 playoff games without ever reaching the finals, the third-most in NBA history behind Paul Millsap (129) and Al Horford (124).
And he could join a very small club. Only five players have won their first championship in their 16th season or later; Juwan Howard and Kevin Willis won championships in their 18th seasons (not counting the 1988-89 season that Willis missed), Jason Kidd got the elusive ring in his 17th season, and Dwight Howard and Gary Payton finally got their hands on the Larry O’Brien Trophy in their 16th seasons.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Marcio Jose Sanchez
Tuesday will mark the first time that an NBA Finals game has been played in July — which becomes the seventh month in which a title-round matchup will occur.
Other months that have seen finals games: March, April, May, June, September, and October.
Marcio Jose Sanchez
Tuesday will mark the first time that an NBA Finals game has been played in July — which becomes the seventh month in which a title-round matchup will occur.
Other months that have seen finals games: March, April, May, June, September, and October.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Morry Gash
Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 40 points on 60% shooting in Milwaukee’s two games against Phoenix this season. No player had averaged that, and shot that well, against the Suns in a single regular season since 1992-93 — when Chicago’s Michael Jordan averaged 42 points on 60.3% shooting.
The Bulls ended up playing the Suns in that season’s finals, too.
Morry Gash
Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 40 points on 60% shooting in Milwaukee’s two games against Phoenix this season. No player had averaged that, and shot that well, against the Suns in a single regular season since 1992-93 — when Chicago’s Michael Jordan averaged 42 points on 60.3% shooting.
The Bulls ended up playing the Suns in that season’s finals, too.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
John Bazemore
Milwaukee won the Central Division and Phoenix won the Pacific Division this season.
That means this will be the 10th consecutive season where a division champion will win the NBA title. The last division non-winner to end up as NBA champions was Dallas in 2011. Every team that made the finals since did so after winning a division crown.
John Bazemore
Milwaukee won the Central Division and Phoenix won the Pacific Division this season.
That means this will be the 10th consecutive season where a division champion will win the NBA title. The last division non-winner to end up as NBA champions was Dallas in 2011. Every team that made the finals since did so after winning a division crown.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Mark J. Terrill
NBA Finals games typically start late; most in this series will tip off shortly after 9 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, so they tend to finish around 11:30 p.m.
History says the Suns might go a bit later.
There have been two triple-overtime games in NBA Finals history — and Phoenix has played in both. They lost to Boston 128-126 on June 4, 1976, and defeated Chicago 129-121 on June 13, 1993.
The NBA has also seen three double-overtime finals games. Milwaukee played in one of those, beating Boston 102-101 on May 10, 1974.
Mark J. Terrill
NBA Finals games typically start late; most in this series will tip off shortly after 9 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, so they tend to finish around 11:30 p.m.
History says the Suns might go a bit later.
There have been two triple-overtime games in NBA Finals history — and Phoenix has played in both. They lost to Boston 128-126 on June 4, 1976, and defeated Chicago 129-121 on June 13, 1993.
The NBA has also seen three double-overtime finals games. Milwaukee played in one of those, beating Boston 102-101 on May 10, 1974.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Aaron Gash
A good omen for Milwaukee, perhaps?
Since the NBA went to the current playoff format in 1984, there have been three instances of a No. 3 seed from one conference taking on the No. 2 seed from the other conference in the NBA Finals. (This will be the fourth; Milwaukee was seeded No. 3 in the East, Phoenix No. 2 in the West.)
In all three of the previous 3-versus-2 finals matchups, the No. 3 seed won the NBA title: Detroit over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, San Antonio over Cleveland in 2007 and Dallas over Miami in 2011.
Aaron Gash
A good omen for Milwaukee, perhaps?
Since the NBA went to the current playoff format in 1984, there have been three instances of a No. 3 seed from one conference taking on the No. 2 seed from the other conference in the NBA Finals. (This will be the fourth; Milwaukee was seeded No. 3 in the East, Phoenix No. 2 in the West.)
In all three of the previous 3-versus-2 finals matchups, the No. 3 seed won the NBA title: Detroit over the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, San Antonio over Cleveland in 2007 and Dallas over Miami in 2011.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Kathy Willens
Jrue Holiday doesn’t know what it’s like to play in the NBA Finals. Same goes for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. In fact, no player in this series — except for Phoenix’s Jae Crowder — has logged a single second in a finals game.
The Holiday and Antetokounmpo families have a bit of experience in this area, though.
Justin Holiday, Jrue’s brother, played in a game with Golden State during the 2015 finals. And Kostas Antetokounmpo — Giannis’ and Thanasis’ brother — won a ring with the Lakers last season but didn’t play in the title series against Miami.
Kathy Willens
Jrue Holiday doesn’t know what it’s like to play in the NBA Finals. Same goes for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. In fact, no player in this series — except for Phoenix’s Jae Crowder — has logged a single second in a finals game.
The Holiday and Antetokounmpo families have a bit of experience in this area, though.
Justin Holiday, Jrue’s brother, played in a game with Golden State during the 2015 finals. And Kostas Antetokounmpo — Giannis’ and Thanasis’ brother — won a ring with the Lakers last season but didn’t play in the title series against Miami.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Aaron Gash
One key for both teams in these NBA Finals: Don’t let the other team get a double-digit lead.
Milwaukee and Phoenix have been pretty much unbeatable in these playoffs when either club gets a lead of at least 10 points. The Suns are 11-0 in the playoffs in games where they’ve had a double-digit lead; the Bucks are 10-1, the loss coming when they let a 17-point lead get away against Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In the regular season, Milwaukee was 41-9 in games in which it led by at least 10 at some point; Phoenix was 45-10 in such games.
Phoenix’s biggest comeback win this season was 16 points, done twice, including once against Milwaukee. The biggest Bucks comeback win was a game in which they trailed by 19 against Philadelphia.
Aaron Gash
One key for both teams in these NBA Finals: Don’t let the other team get a double-digit lead.
Milwaukee and Phoenix have been pretty much unbeatable in these playoffs when either club gets a lead of at least 10 points. The Suns are 11-0 in the playoffs in games where they’ve had a double-digit lead; the Bucks are 10-1, the loss coming when they let a 17-point lead get away against Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In the regular season, Milwaukee was 41-9 in games in which it led by at least 10 at some point; Phoenix was 45-10 in such games.
Phoenix’s biggest comeback win this season was 16 points, done twice, including once against Milwaukee. The biggest Bucks comeback win was a game in which they trailed by 19 against Philadelphia.
NBA Finals: Live updates from the Bucks vs. the Suns
Matt York
If the Suns lead this series at any time, the franchise will have a winning postseason record again for the first time since May 18, 1995 — when they were 86-85 in their all-time playoff history.
The Suns enter these finals 145-145 in postseason play.
The Bucks haven’t had a winning postseason record since May 26, 2001, when they were 96-95. At the end of the 1980 playoffs, when they were 85-84. They’re 138-145 all-time in playoff action, meaning they can’t get over the .500 mark again in this series.
Matt York
If the Suns lead this series at any time, the franchise will have a winning postseason record again for the first time since May 18, 1995 — when they were 86-85 in their all-time playoff history.
The Suns enter these finals 145-145 in postseason play.
The Bucks haven’t had a winning postseason record since May 26, 2001, when they were 96-95. At the end of the 1980 playoffs, when they were 85-84. They’re 138-145 all-time in playoff action, meaning they can’t get over the .500 mark again in this series.
The loss to Nigeria was supposed to be a wakeup call for the Americans. But apparently they hit the snooze button.
The mighty Team USA basketball team dropped its second consecutive Olympic warmup game Monday night, 91-83, falling to Australia because Kevin Durant and the offense sputtered down the stretch.
The good news is Gregg Popovich’s squad still has about two weeks before the Olympics begin. The bad news is it looks in danger of disaster.
The Americans managed just one point in the final 4 ½ minutes Monday, with Durant missing three shots. Jayson Tatum’s airball in the final seconds symbolized a brutal shooting performance from the Celtics All-Star. On the other side, Australia’s Patty Mills turned dominant, finishing with 21 points in 31 minutes while performing pirouettes around USA’s defense.
Before last week, the Americans lost two men’s basketball exhibitions in 29 years. Now they’ve lost two in three days.
Still, they remain favorites to win the gold in Tokyo. Individually, they’re undoubtedly the most talented of the field, but also hardly the Dream Team versions of the previous Olympics. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul all declined invitations.
The current roster only has two of the 15 All-NBA selections in 2021 – Dame Lillard (22 points Monday) and Bradley Beal (12). The U.S. has captured gold at three consecutive Olympics but bombed in the 2019 World Cup, where Popovich, coaching the senior squad for the first time after Mike Krzyzewski’s successful run, finished seventh.
Durant, 32, was the unexpected and most accomplished Team USA participant, having just navigated an injury-riddled campaign with the Brooklyn Nets at 32 years old and about two years removed from Achilles surgery. He finished Monday with 17 points in 29 minutes but faltered down the stretch, unable to break America’s game-sealing drought.
USA had control early but lost it, courtesy of Australia’s 19-6 run to end the third quarter. The Americans entered the fourth trailing by 5 and only briefly regained the lead before the offense went belly-up.
Australia is an Olympic contender with a lineup of NBA players, most notably Patty Mills and Joe Ingles. The embattled Ben Simmons was eligible for Australia but withdrew from the Olympics amid rumors of discord with the national team and Ingles, in particular.
Officially, Simmons, whose future with the Sixers is also up in the air, listed the desire for training and improvement as the reasons for skipping Tokyo.
“I have spoken with Ben, and whilst we wanted him to be a part of our team, we understand and support his decision, and he has made it clear that this is something he wants to be a part of in the future,” Australia coach Brian Goorjian said. “It is a pretty rough time for him right now, and I know it is something that he wanted to do, but the timing just hasn’t worked.”
The defeat to Nigeria two days prior, while still embarrassing, was somewhat softened by Monday’s other result. The Nigerians pummeled Argentina, 94-71, giving them the air of a medal contender for Tokyo.
The Americans face Argentina in another exhibition Tuesday in Vegas, then finish their pre-Olympic tuneups against Australia and Spain on July 16 and 18, respectively. They open the Olympics against Frank Ntilikina and France on July 25.
