In short:
Australia has defeated Serbia in a warm-up match ahead of this month’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The win came after the Boomers were narrowly defeated by the USA on Monday.
What’s next?
The Boomers begin their Olympic campaign on Saturday, July 27, against Spain.
On the eve of the Olympics Patty Mills has found form and inspired the Boomers to an impressive pre-Games victory over Serbia.
The veteran, who will be 36 the day after the gold medal final in Paris, will head for his fifth Games lifted by a 28-point haul that helped Australia to an 84-73 point win over NBA superstar Nikola Jokic’s team.
ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27
Dante Exum added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists coming off the bench and Josh Giddey finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists.
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For Serbia, three-time NBA MVP Jokic totalled 14 points and 14 rebounds and Filip Petrusev 17 points.
Brian Goorjian began with the same starting five as in Monday’s encouraging 98-92 loss to the United States: Mills, Giddey, Daniels, Jock Landale and Nick Kay.
Against the US Mills landed just two of eight attempts in 22 minutes, but 24 hours later he found his range hitting seven of 13 in 28 minutes including four three-pointers.
With Mills starting hot, Australia pulled out to a 20-15 lead by the end of the first quarter only for Serbia to come back and edge the half 40-39.
With 6 minutes remaining, Serbia led 67-66 but the Boomers finished strongly, Mills contributing to three-pointers from Daniels and Kay that gave them breathing space.
Australia will open their Olympic program against Spain on July 27.
Greece and Canada are also in their group. The group matches are being played in Lille, in northern France, with the closing stages in Paris
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AAP
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