Nikola Jokic proved once more why he’s a three-time NBA Most worthy participant, main Serbia to a nail-biting 95-90 additional time win over Australia on Tuesday and into the ultimate 4 of the Paris Olympic basketball event.
It was an uphill victory from the beginning for Serbia, which dug itself out of a 24-point first-half gap to achieve the brink of a regulation victory solely to look at Patty Mill hit a desperation fade away jumper with 1.4 seconds to play to pressure the additional session.
With simply over a minute to go in additional time and Serbia trailing 90-89, Jokic got here to his nation’s rescue, scoring two clutch baskets to ship the dagger and a 93-90 lead.
Bogdan Bogdanovic made the ultimate two free throws to seal the victory.
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Jokic completed with a team-high 21 factors and 14 rebounds, whereas Bogdanovic contributed 17 factors to the Serbian trigger.
The win sends Serbia via to the semifinals for the second within the final three Video games, the place they now await the winner of the U.S. and Brazil.
Earlier, Franz Wagner hit 18 factors as Germany overcame a sleepy begin to ease previous Greece 76-63 and safe a spot in a first-ever Olympic ultimate 4.
After group play in Lille, the basketball event has moved to Paris for the knockout spherical with 4 quarter-finals highlighted by a showdown between medal contenders France and Canada, adopted by the LeBron James-led U.S. taking over Brazil.