Heartbreak for Boomers as Mills’ Magic Isn’t Enough Against Serbia

The Boomers faced a tough loss against Serbia in a nail-biting quarterfinal match at the Olympics, leaving fans reeling. Patty Mills, who had shone brightly throughout the tournament, put on a fantastic display yet again, especially in the first quarter as Australia took an impressive lead.

Things started looking great for the Boomers as they jumped out to a 31-17 lead, with Mills scoring a remarkable 12 points in the first quarter alone. His performance had everyone buzzing with excitement, especially with promising young star Josh Giddey contributing another eight points early on.

But as thrilling as the beginning was, the game took a turn for the worse for Australia. Turnovers plagued the Boomers, allowing Serbia to claw back from a 24-point deficit. This lack of control over possession would ultimately haunt them throughout the match.

Despite their early dominance, the Boomers couldn’t sustain their offensive output. After heading into halftime with a 54-42 lead, Australia struggled to find their rhythm in the second half. Coach Goorjian tried different line-ups, even turning to an all-bench squad at one point, trying to shake things up.

Australia seemed on the verge of another great moment at the end of the fourth quarter when Mills sank a clutch shot to tie the game at 82-82, sending it into overtime. But fate had other plans, and the Boomers couldn’t hold on to the lead in the extra period.

In the end, it was a heartbreaking finish for the team, losing 95-90 after a tough battle against Serbia, who was powered by notable performances from their star players. Despite their best efforts, the turnover issue resurfaced at critical moments, proving too costly for the Boomers.