US WASTES MOST OF BIG LEAD, HOLDS ON TO BEAT AUSTRALIA 98-92 IN TUNEUP FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
There was a lot for the U.S. Olympic team to like on Monday. And a lot not to like.
Anthony Davis scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton came up with a pair of late 3-pointers that helped stop a freefall by the Americans, and the U.S. beat Australia 98-92 on Monday to improve to 2-0 in its five-game slate of exhibitions leading into the Paris Olympics.
Devin Booker scored 16 for the U.S., Anthony Edwards scored 14 and three players — LeBron James, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid — finished with 10 for the Americans, who are playing host to a pair of exhibitions at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates this week. They’ll play Serbia there on Wednesday.
Jock Landale scored 20 for Australia, which got 17 from Josh Giddey and 14 from Dyson Daniels.
The U.S. led by 24 midway through the third quarter, yet saw that lead cut to six with 5:05 left after Australia went on a 39-21 run. But Haliburton had the next six points on his 3s, pushing the lead back to 92-80.
Australia cut it to four on two separate occasions, but Booker went 4-for-4 from the line in the final 8 seconds to ensure the U.S. would escape.
“Third quarter, we started turning the ball over,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We gave up a ton of points at the basket. Back cuts, offensive boards and so, the game shifted. It’s a good lesson for us. Better to learn that lesson now than later. And this will be a good tape for us to watch. But I give Australia a ton of credit. They were great. They fought. They were really physical. Took it to us in the last quarter and a half and really made it a game.”
Second unit, again
Just like in the Canada game, the so-called second unit — Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Adebayo, Davis and Booker — changed the game.
That was the group on the floor when the Americans took a game that was tied at 19-19 with 3:15 left in the first and turned it into a 39-23 lead — a 20-4 run in a span of just over 5 minutes.
Kerr used that group as his starting five to open the second half. But it’s become a clear trend already: when the U.S. goes to its bench and can replace All-Stars with other All-Stars, it’s just going to be a massive problem for opponents who don’t have anywhere near that same level of depth.
“The strength of our team is our depth and we have to utilize our depth,” Kerr said.
It’s been something the Americans have used to their advantage in the past. Dwyane Wade led the gold-medalist 2008 U.S. Olympic team in points, even though he was sixth in minutes on that team and came off the bench in all eight games.
Turnovers
Here’s the big trouble sign right now for the U.S.: turnovers.
FIBA games are shorter than NBA games, 40 minutes instead of 48 minutes. That means there are fewer possessions and makes it even more imperative to not give the ball away.
Which the Americans did. A lot.
After committing 15 turnovers in last week’s exhibition win over Canada, the U.S. had 18 giveaways on Monday and Australia used them to fuel the comeback effort — getting 25 points off turnovers in the second half alone.
“Our turnovers, it’s all about focus and execution,” Davis said.
Injury watch
Kevin Durant missed his second consecutive game because of a calf strain, and with only one practice between games it wouldn’t seem likely that he plays Wednesday against Serbia either.
Derrick White, who arrived in Abu Dhabi over the weekend and got into his first practice with the team on Sunday, also didn’t play. White replaced Kawhi Leonard — who deals with knee issues — on the U.S. roster after the Americans determined last week that it wasn’t in Leonard’s best interest to play this summer.
CAVS’ GARLAND: ‘I DON’T WANT TO BE TRADED’
Darius Garland denied reports that he wants to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I don’t want to be traded,” he told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com at Summer League on Sunday. “Those are just rumors.”
After the team’s elimination in the second round to the Boston Celtics in May, it was reported that Garland’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, would engage Cavaliers officials to find a trade for Garland if backcourt mate Donovan Mitchell were to sign a long-term extension, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and Jason Lloyd.
The Cavaliers penned Mitchell to a three-year, $153-million extension in July. Garland said he was happy for his teammate when the news broke.
“It’s always good to see one of our guys get the money they deserve and know he’s going to be back with us for a while. I was excited. I was excited for him,” Garland said.
Garland had a down year, averaging 18 points and 6.5 assists in 57 games. He missed time due to lower-body, thumb, and jaw injuries.
The franchise is set to run back the same roster but replaced J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson as head coach. The Cavs finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record last season.
NUGGETS FIRST-ROUND PICK DARON HOLMES II HAS ACHILLES SURGERY
Denver Nuggets first-round draft pick DaRon Holmes II had surgery Monday to repair a torn right Achilles tendon, likely ending his season.
The Nuggets confirmed that the surgery took place after Holmes posted on X, formerly Twitter, Monday morning to say he was on the way to receive the procedure.
“Wanted to thank everyone who reached out it really means a lot!” Holmes wrote. “It was very cool to see how many people care, people I would never expect, human nature can be a beautiful thing man.
“With that being said… I’ll be back and better soon! Let’s get to work.”
Holmes tore his Achilles on Friday night during the Nuggets’ Summer League opener against the Los Angeles Clippers in Las Vegas. Holmes had 11 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes before the injury occurred.
The 6-foot-10 Holmes was selected 22nd overall by the Phoenix Suns and dealt on draft night to the Nuggets for No. 28 pick Ryan Dunn, the No. 56 pick in the 2024 Draft and second-round picks in 2026 and 2031.
Holmes was a standout at Dayton, earning consensus second-team All-America status in 2023-24 after averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks in 33 games (all starts).
FORWARD KJ MARTIN RE-SIGNS WITH 76ERS
The Philadelphia 76ers on Monday announced they re-signed forward KJ Martin, acquired during last season as part of a three-team, seven-player deal that sent disgruntled All-Star guard James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 76ers did not disclose financial terms, though multiple media reports have Martin agreeing to a two-year, $16 million contract.
Martin, 23, averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 12.3 minutes in 58 games (two starts) for Philadelphia. He also played two games for the Clippers before they dealt him on Nov. 1, 2023, in the trade involving the Oklahoma City Thunder and 76ers.
Philadelphia also obtained Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington, who, like Martin, all had contracts that expired at the end of the season. After becoming a free agent, Martin decided to come back to Philadelphia.
The son of former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin, KJ Martin was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He was traded a week later to the Houston Rockets, where he played from 2020-23, until he was traded to the Clippers. Over four seasons, Martin averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 21.7 minutes per game over 266 games (61 starts).