Nikola Jokic led Serbia into the boys’s Olympics basketball semifinals on Tuesday as they rallied from 24 factors right down to edge Australia, 95-90, in time beyond regulation and arrange a possible showdown with Workforce USA.
Patty Mills scored 26 factors for Australia, together with 14 in a row throughout a 20-0 run spanning the primary and second quarters, however Serbia hung powerful and steadily erased the deficit to tug off an epic comeback.
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Three-time NBA MVP Jokic tallied 21 factors, 14 rebounds and eight assists and acquired loads of assist from his supporting solid. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 17 factors as one among 5 different gamers to hit double figures for Serbia.
Australia made it by means of the group stage regardless of dropping two of three video games, whereas Serbia pipped South Sudan to second of their part behind Workforce USA.
Serbia, overwhelmed 110-84 by Workforce USA of their match opener, may meet the reigning four-time champions once more within the semifinals if the People get previous Brazil afterward Tuesday.
Australia broke open a good sport early on, fuelled by the new hand of Mills, the 35-year-old former NBA champion who performed sparingly for Atlanta and Miami this season.
Mills drained back-to-back threes as a part of a spree that fired Australia in a 44-20 lead early within the second interval.
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However Serbia chipped away on the deficit and slashed it in half by the interval, ultimately nudging in entrance when Bogdanovic hit a brief bounce shot with 13 minutes to play.
Serbia outscored the Tokyo bronze medalists 25-11 within the third quarter to take again management, however Josh Giddey, who completed with 25 factors, ensured Australia didn’t go away quietly and Mills despatched the competition to time beyond regulation.
Mills sank a rainbow jumper over Jokic with 1.4 seconds to play to maintain Australia alive, nevertheless it was the towering Jokic heart who had the ultimate say as Serbia reeled off the ultimate eight factors in time beyond regulation.
Australia led 90-87 after a 3 from Giddey however Jokic linked with a hook shot after which made a pair of free throws to place Serbia forward for good.
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