A magical Olympic run for Luka Dončić ended in disappointing fashion Saturday morning.
The Slovenian men’s basketball team that had never before been to the Olympics fell 107-93 to Australia, which took the bronze for that country’s first-ever medal in any significant international tournament.
The Boomers had finished fourth in the Olympics four times before finally hanging a medal around their necks.
Dončić was playing with a taped-up left wrist for most of the game after crashing into a plexiglass barrier during the semifinals.
He clearly had some difficulties against Australia, although he finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. When it was over, Dončić spent a few moments with a towel draped over his head, then shared hugs with Patty Mills, other Australian players and his Slovenian teammates as they settled for fourth place in their first Olympic Games.
Later, he gathered teammates in a remote area of the gym to watch the medal ceremony, where U.S. players got their gold and France the silver.
As NBC commentator Fran Fraschilla said: “A great run (for Slovenia) with Luka Dončić . . . fourth in the world for a country of 2 million people, still an amazing accomplishment.”
Said Dončić on his Twitter feed: “It’s definitely not easy. We fought till the end! What a pleasure has been for my country in 1st Olympics ever for us!!! So proud of these guys”
The Australians got a heroic performance from Mills, their 6-1 guard. He had 42 points and nine assists and was dominant whenever the Aussies needed a lift.
The victory meant that Mavericks’ second-year swingman Josh Green will get a bronze medal, rather than Dončić. Green was a reserve for Australia. He did not play in the bronze medal game.
But Mills did. He overshadowed Dončić for three quarters and got loads of help from Joe Ingles and Jock Landale.
Dončić had won his first 17 games with the Slovenian national team, earning the European championship in 2017 and sweeping a four-game qualifying tournament to get into the Olympics.
They won their first four games in Japan before falling to France in the semifinals. Dončić now is 17-2 in international competition.
The Slovenians got within 66-60 with 3:30 left in the third when Klemen Prepelic converted a four-point play. But Mills was relentless. His long two-pointer with 2:04 to go put Australia back up 72-62.
From there, it was an uphill struggle for Dončić and friends. But they chopped the lead to 83-80 with six minutes still left.
Mills had been unstoppable with his scoring, but it was a pass to Dante Exum in the corner for a 3-pointer that sparked the Australians on a 7-0 burst for a 90-80 lead.
Mills, who will begin his time with the Brooklyn Nets this season after spending 10 years with San Antonio, took charge for Australia. He had 26 points in the first half and he was a pest defensively when he tipped the ball out of Dončić’s hands and then had another steal and layup that put the Australians up 45-35.
Another key moment: the final seconds of the first half when Dončić tried to draw a foul on a 3-pointer from 30-plus feet. He didn’t get the call, but the Aussies got the rebound and a breakaway for Matisse Thybulle that was a five-point turnaround and a 53-45 lead at the break.
Twitter: @ESefko
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