Giddey stars, but Boomers eliminated by Serbia

Former NBL Next Star sensation Josh Giddey starred on the world stage in Paris, but it wasn’t enough as the Australian Boomers fell to a 95-90 loss to Serbia in the quarter finals.

Giddey was everywhere for the Boomers, scoring 25 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing four assists as the Serbians fought back from a 24-point deficit to book their place in the semi-finals against USA.

Nikola Jokic was the difference in the extra period, with his country down three points in the extension, the reigning NBA MVP took control with two stops and two buckets in the final two minutes.

Jokic finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists against the Tokyo bronze medallists as Serbia scored the game's final eight points.

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Australia started on fire, connecting on 20 of their first 25 shots, Patty Mills everywhere as the Boomers built a 44-20 lead during the second quarter.

Serbia sparked into action, reducing the Australian lead to 12 points at the main break, before stifling the Boomers offense in the third quarter, regaining the lead 61-60.

The 2016 Rio silver medallists had the momentum and took control in the final quarter, but the Boomers rallied, Mills (26 points) hitting a tough fadeaway jump shot with one second on the clock to force the five-minute extension.

A three-pointer from Giddey gave the Boomers a 90-87 lead in overtime, but Jokic then took over to lead his side into the final four.

SERBIA 95 (Jokic 21, Bogdanovic 17, Micic 14) def AUSTRALIA 90 (Mills 26, Giddey 25, McVeigh 13)

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