Finally on the podium: Patty Mills' 42 carries Australia to a win over Slovenia / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

In the Olympic bronze medal game between Slovenia and Australia, the Boomers climbed on the winners' podium for the first time in history with a 107-93 (20-19, 33-26, 25-22, 29-26) victory.

Player of the Game EFF 33 Patrick Mills Points 42 Accuracy 15-31 Rebounds 3 Assists 9

Patty Mills was outstanding for Australia. He exceeded his tournament average in the first half alone, scoring 26 in the first 20 minutes. Mills ended the game with 42 points (11/16 2PT, 4/15 3PT, 8/10 FT), adding 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 35 PIR over 37.8 minutes. He set the record for most points scored in an Olympic bronze medal game, beating Drazen Dalipagic's 37 points set in the 1984 Olympics.

Luka Doncic had a lackluster performance, scoring 22 points (4/7 2PT, 3/13 3PT, 5/6 FT), adding 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 8 turnovers, and 16 PIR over 35.5 minutes.

Joe Ingles scored four quick points to start the contest, while Slovenia struggled to put the ball in the hoop. Patty Mills made the first 3-pointer of the game to give Australia a 9-2 lead with 6:31 remaining. Luka Doncic answered by converting an and-one and adding three free throws to close the gap, but it was Klemen Prepelic who gave Slovenia their first lead of the game (13-15). The Aussies finished the period well, however, holding a narrow one-point advantage after one.

Mills started the second quarter by draining a 3-pointer and adding a layup to score his 12th point of the contest. But Slovenia did not crumble with Doncic on the bench, as Edo Muric and Ziga Dimec helped the 2017 European champions gain a three-point lead (25-28). Nick Kay and Zoran Dragic traded treys, as Doncic returned on the floor with 6:48 to go.

Mills continued to assert his dominance, unleashing two more long-range bombs, adding three free throws and a layup to put his team back up (39-35). Jock Landale added two buckets, Mills scored on the fast break, and Australia found themselves with the first double-digit lead of the game (45-35). Slovenia punched back, and Doncic's first 3-pointer narrowed the margin to five, but Matisse Thybulle's last-second fast break jam put the Boomers up by eight at the half (53-45).

Slovenia / Schedule

Spain Slovenia87-95 Slovenia Germany94-70 France Slovenia90-89 Slovenia Australia93-107

Both teams started the second half slow as the first six field goals were off the mark. However, Australia got it going and re-gained a 10-point lead after Landale's and-one. Mills wouldn't stop putting pressure and sent Slovenia to another timeout with their largest deficit (64-52). Prepelic responded with a four-point play on the other end to bring Slovenia within striking distance (66-60), but the Australian flag-bearer Mills kept pouring on to help his team to an 11-points lead going into the fourth (78-67).

Chris Goulding began the final period with a three, but Vlatko Cancar answered with a long-ranger of his own, Jaka Blazic added three points, Prepelic scored under the basket, and the Australian lead was cut to six (81-75). Prepelic added a difficult 3-pointer and Doncic's points brought them within three (83-80). But then, Jaka Blazic was awarded an unsportsmanlike foul, facilitating a 7-0 Australian run (90-80).

Doncic would not roll over and made two-straight 3-pointers, but his team couldn't stop their opponents on the other end. Dante Exum, Ingles, and Mills helped re-take a solid advantage for their team with 3:24 to go (97-86). Finally, Nick Kay sealed the deal with a deep shot, and Australia won their first-ever Olympic medals, defeating Slovenia 107-93.

Australia: Patty Mills 42 (9 assists, 3 rebounds), Joe Ingles 16 (9 rebounds, 4 assists), Jock Landale 14, Dante Exum 12, Matisse Thybulle 11 (5 rebounds, 4 assists), Chris Goulding 6, Nick Kay 6.

Slovenia: Luka Doncic 22 (8 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 turnovers), Klemen Prepelic 18 (7 rebounds), Mike Tobey 13 (5 rebounds), Jaka Blazic 12, Zoran Dragic 9 (5 rebounds), Vlatko Cancar 8, Ziga Dimec 6, Edo Muric 5.

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