MIES (Switzerland) - The basketball action at the 2024 Olympic Games tips off on July 27 and a few teams come to Paris having been warned that anybody can win in a single game. The preparation games featured some big upsets along the way.
Let's count down the four biggest surprises in the tune-up games!
#4 - Japan need massive rally to lose by only 1 point to Korea
July 5: Japan 84-85 Korea
Okay, Rui Hachimura wasn't playing yet - though he was at the Ariake Arena - but Japan fell to an Asian rival who did not play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 or the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments. And Tom Hovasse's Japanese needed a massive rally to make it even close.
Japan were trailing by 20 points after three quarters, having conceded 67 points in the second and third quarters. Japan poured in 32 points in the final frame but still came up short - not exactly a good result for the team's confidence heading to Paris. Yuki Kawamura did have 23 points for Japan.
# 3 - Mills, Giddey tally 44 as Australia surprise France
July 21: France 82-83 Australia
This was a match-up of teams going in opposite directions less than a week before the Olympics tip off as Australia had won three straight preparations games and Olympics hosts France came into the game reeling with three consecutive losses.
Boomers' guards Patty Mills (24 points) and Josh Giddey (20 points plus 6 rebounds and 8 assists) combined for 44 points and Dyson Daniels scored the game-winning basket of a close game with 1 second to play, finishing with 14 points.
France's 20-year-old sensation Victor Wembanyama starred for Vincent Collet's team with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, but the free-falling French committed 22 turnovers.
#2 - Australia show medal contender status with win over Serbia
July 17: Serbia 73-84 Australia
Australia showed at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi that they are a serious medal contender as they took care of business with an 11-point win over FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Finalists Serbia.
A day after losing to USA by just six points as part of the USA Basketball Showcase in the United Arab Emirates, the Boomers got an inspiring performance from captain Patty Mills with 28 points. The 2020 Olympic bronze medalists were down 67-66 with six minutes left but lowered the boom in the final stretch.
Serbia did not have Bogdan Bogdanovic but three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic did play and collected 14 points and 14 rebounds.
#1 - South Sudan give USA real scare
July 20: USA 101-100 South Sudan
South Sudan nearly did the unthinkable but USA rallied all the way back from 16 points down in the first half to see off the Bright Stars by just one point in London. LeBron James was the hero of the game with a game-winning layup with eight seconds remaining.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist James would not let USA lose to the surprising South Sudanese as he poured in 25 points to go with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The big man duo of Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid combined for 29 points and 18 rebounds.
South Sudan got 24 points from Marial Shayok while Carlik Jones collected a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Bright Stars just missed the massive upset.
FIBA