At 8:30 PM on August 6th, the Olympic men’s basketball quarterfinals continue with Serbia facing off against Australia. Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic and ranked fourth in the world, takes on fifth-ranked Australia. The teams have had mixed results in previous meetings, making this a highly anticipated clash.
In this Olympic tournament, Serbia was grouped alongside the USA. They finished second in their group with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, accumulating 5 points and advancing to the quarterfinals. Their only loss came against Team USA. In their opening match against the top-ranked USA, Serbia found themselves at a disadvantage across the board. Despite the team’s best efforts, with five players scoring in double figures and Jokic contributing 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists, they were unable to overcome the deficit. Bogdan Bogdanovic also had a significant impact, but the US team proved too strong. In their second game against a capable Puerto Rico, Serbia seized the opportunity, excelling on both offense and defense. Particularly noteworthy was their dominance in rebounding (54-24), with seven players scoring in double figures and all twelve players on the roster contributing points. Jokic recorded a near triple-double with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists.
In their last game against a strong South Sudan team, Serbia maintained their excellent form, winning all four quarters. They continued to dominate in rebounding but could improve their turnover management. In this game, Serbia shot an impressive 60.4% from the field and 52.4% from three-point range. Bogdanovic went 10 for 14 from the field, including 6 for 9 from three-point range, finishing with a game-high 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jokic was efficient, going 7 for 9 for 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. Vasilije Micic came off the bench to contribute 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Serbia is hitting their stride as the tournament progresses.
Australia’s performance in the group stage was relatively weaker, with a record of 1 win and 2 losses, accumulating 4 points and advancing as the second-placed team in their group. All three teams in the group ended with 4 points, but Australia had a slight edge in point differential. In their first game, Australia defeated Spain 92-80. Australia had a good night from beyond the arc, shooting 50% from three-point range, with five players scoring in double figures. Jock Landale led the way with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Patty Mills added 19 points, including a crucial three-pointer. Josh Giddy contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, securing a strong start for Australia.
However, in their second game against Canada, Australia lost after leading at halftime. Despite having the advantage in rebounds, they struggled with turnovers and fouls. Giddy continued his hot hand, scoring a team-high 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Landale contributed a double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, but Mills struggled, shooting just 2 for 10 for 8 points and 2 rebounds. Against a hard-charging Canadian team, Australia was unable to maintain control.
In a critical final game, Australia faced Greece, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. They fell behind early and trailed by 17 points at halftime. Facing elimination, Landale and Daniel stepped up, ultimately losing 71-77 but managing to reduce the point differential by 11, which helped secure their place in the quarterfinals. Landale scored a team-high 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Mills improved his form with 13 points. Giddy, despite struggling from the field, had a well-rounded game with 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. In the close point differential calculations, Australia’s second-half performance was particularly crucial.
The teams have split their last four meetings, with Serbia defeating Australia 87-61 in a crucial knockout match at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Eight years later, whether Australia can seek revenge remains to be seen. Before the Olympics began, the teams met once, with Australia winning 84-73. However, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Dobric were absent for Serbia, while Jokic recorded 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 steals. Petrushev scored a team-high 17 points. For Australia, veteran Patty Mills erupted for a team-high 28 points, and Giddy added 13 points and 6 rebounds.
This decisive single-elimination match will determine who advances. Who will come out on top? We’ll have to wait and see.
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