Olympics: Boomers Danté Exum suffers dislocated finger in France ...
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Windhorst: Australia have a dynamic roster (3:31)
Brian Windhorst identifies the strengths that the Boomers carry into Paris and what the future of the nation in international tournaments may look like. (3:31)
Olgun Uluc, with AAP
Jul 22, 2024, 07:51 AM
Danté Exum suffered a dislocated finger in the Australian Boomers' final pre-Olympic warmup game against France, sources told ESPN.
The injury occurred in the second quarter of Monday morning's (AEST) exhibition game in Orléans, France, after Exum drove into the lane. He immediately checked himself out of the game and ran straight to the locker room.
There is no injury concern for Jock Landale, sources said; the Boomers' starting centre played just nine minutes on Monday.
The Boomers would go on to win the game 83-82, finishing their warmup game schedule 5-1 ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dyson Daniels hit the go-ahead basket off an inbounds pass from Josh Giddey to give Australia the lead with one second remaining; that would end up being the game-winner.
"It's a concern, that's all I know," Goorjian said post-game.
The coach said their build-up to Saturday's Olympics opener against world No.2 Spain had been about drilling into the squad, namely new pieces Giddey and Daniels, how they wanted to win.
"We're not going to tolerate the non-toughness.
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"The selections were about that; making sure there's no back-off and we play hard every possession.
"We're not perfect but I just know what the other teams think after they shake hands and get on the bus: 'those guys play hard and play together'."
French star Victor Wembanyama almost stole the win but his hurried three-point attempt in the final second bounced off the rim.
The 20-year-old, fresh off a terrific rookie NBA season with San Antonio, finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, linking nicely with fellow big Rudy Gobert in the pick and roll.
But Australia found a way to curb his influence in a comeback win, Patty Mills with 11 first-quarter points to finish with a game-high 24 and Giddey (20 points, eight assists, six rebounds) continuing his hot form.
Daniels had five steals and five assists to go with 14 points, his defence leading to a Mills four-point play in the first quarter in a demonstration of how the new-look Boomers want to play.
The Boomers' Olympic campaign officially begins on July 27 with a Group A matchup against Spain.
