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2024 Paris Olympics

Devin Booker scores 16 points in Team USA’s exhibition win over Australia

© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker came off the bench and posted 16 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in Team USA’s second exhibition game, a 98-92 victory over Australia in Abu Dhabi.

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Anthony Edwards and Jayson Tatum replaced Booker and Jrue Holiday in the starting lineup from Team USA’s first exhibition game, in which Booker had nine points, two rebounds and two assists in a 86-72 victory over Team Canada last week. Booker’s Suns teammate and all-time Team USA men’s basketball scorer, Kevin Durant, missed his second consecutive exhibition game with a calf strain.

Coming off the bench, Booker had a much bigger role offensively playing primarily in a lineup with Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis. He made the most of it, converting 4 of his 7 shots, sinking four free throws in the last 10 seconds (went 7-of-7 overall from the free-throw line) and tying a team high with a +9 plus/minus. Booker was second on the team in points behind Davis, who had 17 and 14 rebounds.

Recapping Booker’s Performance

Booker scored his first two points from the free-throw line with a minute to go in the first quarter.

Next, Booker cashed in on an and-one jumper to start off the scoring for Team USA in the second quarter. He finished the first half with five points and a rebound.

Team USA started the second half with its bench unit. In the first couple minutes of the half, Booker made a tough, contested transition layup and then splashed a 3 on the next trip down. The next Australia offensive possession, Booker got a steal but then missed a 3 on the other end.

Australia cut the USA lead, once 24, all the way down to six with just over five minutes to go in the fourth quarter. However, Team USA did not let them come all the way back, as Booker threw a no-look assist to set up a Haliburton corner 3 that ended up being the dagger, extending the U.S. lead to 12 with under three minutes to go.

Then, Booker officially sealed the game with a jumper to put the U.S. up nine with 30 seconds to go.

Australia would fight back to as little as four with 10 seconds to go, but Booker hit four straight free throws to give the U.S. a 98-92 victory.

Team USA will play its next exhibition on Wednesday at 9 a.m. MST against Nikola Jokic and Serbia in Abu Dhabi.

Team USA scrapes past Australia 98-92, once again faces turnover problems

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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau

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