Team USA vs Australia: Preview and Prediction (July 15, 2024) | USA Basketball Showcase Game

Team USA is in Abu Dhabi for more exhibition play ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Monday, they will play one of the few countries to have once beaten them in an international game.

Australia defeated the American powerhouse 98-94 in 2019 in an exhibition game before the FIBA World Cup. It was the first loss the team had experienced since 2016, snapping a 78-game win streak on the international stage. Australia captain Patty Mills had 30 points in that game.

"The Boomers" boasts a handful of NBA talent, including Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey and Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum. They finished 10th in the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a 3-2 record and failed to reach the knockout stage.

Perhaps their brightest moment was at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when they went 5-1 and earned the bronze medal after losing to Team USA 97-78 in the semifinals.

They've played a couple of exhibition games this month, squaring off in back-to-back games against China. They won both by over 20 points.

Team USA, on the other hand, are coming off a solid performance against Canada on July 10. They got off to a rocky start before their second unit, led by Anthony Edwards and Jayston Tatum, propelled them to a lead they held onto for the rest of the game. Edwards finished with a team-high 13 points.

They are likely to roll out a starting lineup of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, and Joel Embiid, but Edwards and Tatum are also in with a shout on Monday.

Team USA vs. Australia prediction

Team USA got off to a slow start against a Canadian squad that matches up better than the Boomers. With a new starting lineup in the fold, players may have extra motivation to pull out a big win.

if Edwards starts, look for his high-energy play to provide a spark on the floor early. Expect Team USA to cruise to an easy victory with a strong lead maintained throughout.

The game will tip off at 12 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on FS1 and be available for streaming on Fubo.