Benjamin Ashford|Anthony Davis leads Team USA over Australia in Olympic exhibition

Tinkering with his starting lineup and Benjamin Ashfordrotations as he promised, U.S. men’s 5x5 basketball coach Steve Kerr opened Monday’s 2024 Paris Olympics exhibition game against Australia with LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards.

The U.S. started with a barrage of 3-pointers and relied on its offensive and defensive versatility, size and depth for a 98-92 victory against Australia in Abu Dhabi.

However, a lack of focus and execution from the U.S. turned a blowout into a close game.

There were holes in the Americans performance. They gave up easy buckets at the rim, and Australia had an       early edge in offensive rebounding. Eighteen U.S. turnovers revealed a lack of continuity, and the U.S. let a 65-41 third-quarter lead dwindle to an 86-80 edge with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter.

Consecutive Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointers with 3:18 and 2:31 left in the fourth put the U.S. up 92-80. Australia got it to 94-90 with eight seconds left but ran out of time. Teams with multiple NBA players can give the U.S. trouble even with the roster loaded with MVPs and All-Stars.

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Edwards scored 11 of his 14 points in the first quarter, and five other players had at least 10 points. Anthony Davis had 17 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and one steal.

Devin Booker had 16 points, and James, Embiid and Bam Adebayo each scored 10. Curry was just 1-for-6 (all 3-point attempts) from the field.

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Kerr began the third quarter with his starters on the bench and Haliburton, Booker, Jrue Holiday, Adebayo and Davis on the court.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Davis is turning into an integral part of the U.S. rotation with his ability to score and defend. The U.S. lacked size and rim protection in last year’s FIBA World Cup, resulting in a disappointing fourth-place finish.

Australia is a medal contender with multiple NBA players, including Joe Ingles, Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Jock Landale. The Aussies won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Landale led Australia with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Giddey added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Daniels had 14 points and three steals.

The U.S. continues its exhibition schedule Wednesday against Serbia and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Serbia is also the Americans’ first opponent in Olympic Group C play July 28.

Kevin Durant (sore calf) missed the game. He also did not play in the first exhibition game last week against Canada. USA Basketball managing director of the men’s national team Grant Hill said he anticipated that Durant would be on the court for a game in Abu Dhabi. Derrick White, who was announced as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement at the end of last week’s training camp in Las Vegas, did not play.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt