It starts badly for Serbia with an airball from Bogdan Bogdanovic. Even though the fullback/winger catches up in the process, Josh Giddey penalizes on the other side. The new Chicago player has more freedom than in previous games, and Svetislav Pesic already calls a timeout while his team does not seem to be in the game.
Nikola Jokic is served under the circle but Patty Mills and Josh Giddey manage to find space. Enough to launch “FIBA Patty”, who continues to succeed. After ten minutes, he has already scored 12 points. 31-17 for Australia!
Patty Mills is now hot, as he has been so often in FIBA basketball, and Svestislav Pesic calls another timeout. It must be said that Serbia is overwhelmed by the intensity and fast play of Australia.
Eternal “FIBA Patty”
Patty Mills is too hot, and Australia systematically punishes Serbia behind the interiors, forced to go high. The Boomers pass a 25-3 and take a clear 24-point lead (44-20). On the bench, Svestislav Pesic has a big rant and, on the field, the Serbs also get worked up.
The Serbian coach pairs Nikola Jokic and Nikola Milutinov, in order to always provide cover in the paint, and this allows his team to catch up (54-42) at half-time, when Patty Mills is already at 20 points.
Patty Mills continues her festival after the locker room but Serbia slowly continues to get closer. And on a 3-pointer from Bogdan Bogdanovic, Australia leads by only four points (60-56). Brian Goorjian calls a timeout to try to calm his team down, while the Serbian crowd wakes up with his team.
It was Bogdan Boogdanovic who put Serbia back in the lead (61-60) for the first time since the middle of the first quarter. Nikola Jokic's impact hurt Australia… as did Aleksa Azramovic's shoulder hit on Dante Exum, which was penalized for an unsportsmanlike violation. After three quarters, Serbia led by two points (67-65).
Patty Mills snatches extension
Nikola Milutinov against Patty Mills and Serbia take control of the game, although Jack McVeigh's introduction is good for Australia. Svetislav Pesic already calls a timeout as his players get annoyed with each other.
The Boomers are still having more and more trouble shooting and Jack McVeigh is still doing well from distance. On both sides, there is a lot of tension as the “money time” approaches and neither team manages to take the lead. Josh Giddey equalizes (78-78) and there are three minutes left to play…
Josh Giddey and then Patty Mills miss key shots for Australia to take the lead. And Jock Landale gets his fifth foul on a contentious contact with Vasilije Micic, who lets a shot go. 82-80 for Serbia with 9.8 seconds left to play. The ball is obviously for Patty Mills who, launched into a complicated one-on-one against Nikola Jokic, scores an extremely difficult shot and sends the two teams into overtime: 82-82!
Nikola Jokic's decisive baskets
Ognjen Dobric starts the overtime with a 3-pointer but Jack McVeigh responds, and Duop Reath gives Australia the lead again. Patty Mills seems totally exhausted and it is Josh Giddey who takes over (90-87). He is however countered by Nikola Jokic who, in this messy overtime, manages to score two valuable baskets.
Australia still finds itself at -3 (93-90) with 25.1 seconds left. Filip Petrusev steals the ball from Patty Mills on Josh Giddey's soft throw-in and it's Serbia (95-90) by Nikola Jokic (21 points at 9/18 shooting, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals) who is heading to the semi-finals.
It will be against the winner of the duel between the United States and Brazil, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. this Tuesday evening.
Photo credit: FIBA
