Despite being again the main favorite for the gold medal in men’s basketball, the United States were defeated by Australia in a friendly 91-83 in Las Vegas this Monday.
Thus, the stars of nba They will begin their preparation for Tokyo 2020 with two straight losses in five friendly matches.
Over the weekend, the Dream Team had already lost to Nigeria in a historic upset.
And the results, while favorable, demonstrate the crisis in Greg Popovich’s cast. That’s because America has started 2021 with 54 wins and just two losses in exhibition games since playing alongside NBA athletes in a basketball friendly in 1992.
In preparation for Tokyo, the American team has equaled the defeat of the last 29 years. The other two times Americans lost friendship, in 2004, for Italy, and also in 2019, for Australia.
On Monday night, Patty Mills, coached by Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, stood out with 22 points for Australia.
For America, Damien Lillard with 22 points and Kevin Durant with 17 were the standouts.
