Pre-Olympic basketball action continues with an exhibition between Australia and Serbia.
The Australian Boomers are back in action one day after staging a second-half rally in a six-point loss to the United States. Serbia has had a few days off after earning a 12-point win over France last week.
This matchup is headlined by three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, who leads a Serbian team that also features Bogdan Bogdanovic and Vasilije Micic. In the win over France, Jokic finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out.
Australia has a tall task ahead after struggling with Anthony Davis in its exhibition with Team USA. The Boomers’ strength lies on the perimeter with Patty Mills, Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels making up a three-guard lineup, but Jock Landale had a standout performance against the United States.
As Australia looks to slow down the world’s best big man, The Sporting News is tracking live updates throughout the exhibition game.
MORE: Stats and highlights from Australia’s narrow loss to Team USA
Australia vs. Serbia basketball live score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Australia | 20 | 19 | 23 | ||
| Serbia | 15 | 25 | 19 |
Australia vs. Serbia live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympic men’s basketball exhibition game
(All times Eastern.)
End of third quarter: Australia 62, Serbia 59
1:32 p.m.: Josh Giddey puts the moves on display and ends the third quarter with a mid-range jumper over Nikola Jokic.
Australia takes a three-point lead into the final frame and Giddey is up to 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes of action. Patty Mills has 21 points, which still leads all scorers.
Serbia is led by 15 points from Filip Petrusev while Nikola Jokic now has 12 points and 12 rebounds through three quarters.
1:29 p.m.: As the third quarter winds down, Serbia and Australia continue to go back and forth.
The Boomers are clinging to a one-point lead with 1:17 remaining in the frame.
Australia 60, Serbia 59
1:22 p.m.: A quick 4-0 run for Serbia results in a timeout from Australia.
After a putback from Nikola Jokic, Serbia retakes the lead with 3:48 remaining in the quarter. Jokic is up to 12 points and 12 rebounds in the game.
Serbia 56, Australia 54
1:18 p.m.: Midway through the third quarter, the Boomers are holding on to a two-point lead.
Timeout on the floor.
Australia 54, Serbia 52
1:11 p.m.: Patty Mills has picked up right where he left off to open the second half.
After drawing another foul on a 3-pointer, Mills sank all three free throws to bring his game-high total to 18 points. After a mid-range jumper from Josh Giddey and a 3-pointer from Jock Landale, the Boomers’ lead is up to five points early in the second half.
Australia 49, Serbia 44
Halftime: Serbia 40, Australia 39
12:53 p.m.: Serbia closes the half on an 8-1 run to take a one-point lead into the halftime break.
Vasilije Micic has made his presence felt for Serbia, finishing the half with four points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds. Filip Petrusev leads Serbia with 11 points while Nikola Jokic has four points, seven rebounds and two assists.
For the Boomers, Patty Mills leads the way with a game-high 13 points. Josh Giddey has seven points and five rebounds but has committed four turnovers.
This one could come down to the wire but with Australia on the second end of a back-to-back and Serbia on the front end of a back-to-back, both head coaches could err on the side of caution in the second half.
12:47 p.m.: As the half winds down, Patty Mills continues to shine and the Boomers have a six-point lead. Mills has a game-high 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Timeout on the floor.
After the break, Nikola Jokic, who is still sitting on two points in the game, can cut the deficit when he steps to the free throw line. Despite quiet scoring efforts, Jokic has pulled down a game-high seven boards.
Australia 38, Serbia 32
12:41 p.m.: And Matthew Dellavedova has entered the chat.
After Serbia briefly took a one-point lead, a Dellavedova 3-pointer caps off a brief 5-0 run for the Boomers, who are back up by four points with 4:16 left in the half.
Australia 32, Serbia 28
12:37 p.m.: Serbia and Australia are going back and forth but Patty Mills continues to stand out above the rest.
After drawing a foul on a 3-pointer, Mills sinks two of three shots from the line to be the first in double figures in the game. Australia is back up by three with 6:10 remaining in the half.
Australia 27, Serbia 24
End of first quarter: Australia 20, Serbia 15
12:28 p.m.: Australia takes a five-point lead into the second quarter.
The Boomers are led by eight points from Patty Mills, who has yet to miss from the field — he’s a perfect 3 of 3 from deep and has hit both of his 3-point attempts.
Patty has caught fire in the first quarter 🔥
Watch Australia vs Serbia LIVE on ESPN 📺 pic.twitter.com/1Mppzr8z6c
— NBL (@NBL) July 16, 2024
Dyson Daniels has only scored two points but he’s pulled down three rebounds and dished out three assists.
Serbia is led by five points from Vanja Marinkovic. Nikola Jokic has two points, six rebounds and an assist.
12:18 p.m.: It might be an international friendly, but Nikola Jokic is still putting the moves on display.
Jokic got his defender int he air with a nifty pump fake and got to the rim for his first points of the game. Jokic has five rebounds, an assist and a block to go with it.
Australia leads by three as the first frame winds down.
Australia 14, Serbia 11
12:10 p.m.: It’s an early hot start for Patty Mills, who’s up to six points on 2-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Boomers are out to an early four-point lead with 7:14 remaining in the first. Timeout on the floor.
Australia 8, Serbia 4.
12:06 p.m.: Vasilije Micic gets Serbia on the board first with a layup assisted by Nikola Jokic.
Game on in Abu Dhabi.
Pregame
12 p.m.: Starting for Serbia: Vasilije Micic, Marko Guduric, Vanja Marinkovic, Filip Petrušev and Nikola Jokic.
Australia is going with a starting five of Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Nick Kay and Jock Landale.
11:45 a.m.: Serbia will be without Ognen Dobric and Bogan Bogdanovic, who will be out for load management. Their status for the next game against Team USA is unclear.
11:30 a.m.: Gameday preparations for the Serbian squad. The exhibition with Australia is the first of back-to-back games in Abu Dhabi.
📸 Zagrevanje pred duel sa 🇦🇺 Australijom…#TeamSerbia 🇷🇸🏀 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/wQ08KsDTfL
— Košarkaški savez SRB (@KSSrbije) July 16, 2024
What channel is Australia vs. Serbia on today?
- Start time: 12 p.m. ET (2 a.m. AEST)
- TV channel (U.S.): TBD
- TV channel (Australia): ESPN | Kayo Freebies
Australia vs. Serbia will be broadcast on ESPN in Australia.
MORE: Australia, Canada to participate in ‘Group of Death’ at Paris Olympics
When do the Olympics start?
The opening ceremony at the 2024 Olympics is July 26. The men’s basketball tournament tips off the next day on July 27 and ends with the medal games on Aug. 10.
Australia and Serbia are two of 12 teams to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Australia is in Group A while Serbia is in Group C.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| July 27 | Australia vs. Spain | 5 a.m. |
| July 28 | Serbia vs. USA | 11:15 a.m. |
| July 30 | Australia vs. Canada | 7:30 a.m. |
| July 31 | Serbia vs. Puerto Rico | 11:15 a.m. |
| Aug. 2 | Australia vs. Greece | 7:30 a.m. |
| Aug. 3 | Serbia vs. South Sudan | 3 p.m. |
| Aug. 6 | Men’s basketball quarterfinals | TBD |
| Aug. 8 | Men’s basketball semifinals | TBD |
| Aug. 10 | Men’s basketball gold-medal game | TBD |
| Aug. 10 | Men’s basketball bronze-medal game | TBD |
