Boston guard Kemba Walker dazzled with 23 points as the United States ramped up preparations for the defence of their World Cup crown with an impressive 102-86 victory over Australia in a warm-up game yesterday.
Myles Turner added 15 points with 14 rebounds while Donovan Mitchell scored 13 with three assists to build on their recent victory over world number two Spain en-route to China for the tournament that tips off on August 31.
Chris Goulding led Australia with 19 points off the bench, along with San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills, who had two rebounds and three assists in front of more than 50,000 fans at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
“I’m one of the leaders of this team so I just try to do my best for my teammates,” said Walker, who was appointed captain for the game.
“I’m super happy to be here. I want to inspire the young kids coming up.”
The five-time world champions, ranked number one in the world by international governing body FIBA, started on a 6-0 run before Mills got Australia on the board, with the Americans ending the first quarter 22-20 in front. 
They raced to an 11 point advantage before Goulding drained back-to-back threes and Mills hit from deep just before the buzzer to trim the margin to just one point, 44-43, at the half-way mark.
But Team USA then went on a 10-0 spree, reeling off a trio of three-pointers, to assert their authority, finishing three-quarter time comfortably ahead 76-61 before closing it out.
“We are looking to build and grow,” said Australia’s Mills. “The World Cup is where we want to peak and this was a good hit out for us.” 
Coach Gregg Popovich’s USA squad – which needs to be trimmed to 12 from the current 13 – head to the World Cup as favourites despite missing a host of top NBA stars.
LeBron James, James Harden, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard all opted out, while others such as Houston Rockets forward P J Tucker are injured, leaving a depleted, but still talented, line-up who have not had much match time together.
While Australia, widely seen as a medal contender, boasts a handful of NBA stars, including Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles and Mills, they too have had to deal with withdrawals. Philadelphia 76s’ Jonah Bolden pulled out this week, joining Ben Simmons and Thon Maker (NBAcommitments), Ryan Broekhoff (birth of his child) and Dante Exum (injury) as no-shows. The two teams play each other again in Melbourne tomorrow.

Australia can win basketball World Cup, says USA coach
United States coach Gregg Popovich has tipped Australia as a key contender at the upcoming basketball World Cup in China, saying they have the ability to win the tournament. 
The veteran San Antonio Spurs mastermind offered the praise ahead of two warm-up games between the nations in Melbourne this week. 
“They are one of the teams that can win the whole thing, without a doubt,” Popovich said. “I’m not saying that because I’m here (in Melbourne). It’s just a fact.”
The world number one Americans will try to win a third consecutive World Cup next month with a line-up that lacks many of their NBA superstars, with the likes of James Harden, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard among notable absentees. But they boast top young talent and will use the games in Australia to refine their identity. 
They arrived in Melbourne on the back of a 90-81 victory over second-ranked Spain in Anaheim, California, and will play the Boomers later Thursday, then again Saturday before a final warm-up against Canada in Sydney on August 26.
In contrast to the five-time World Cup winners, Australia have never won a medal. But Popovich thinks this could be their year. 
“They’ve been close for several years, and they are hungry. They are talented. Coach (Andrej) Lemanis does a good job, and they are a team,” he said on the USA basketball website.
“They are together. They know what they are doing. They execute really well, so that’s what it takes. They have the toughness and physicality to go with it. I think they are one of the top contenders without a doubt.”
While Australia boosts a handful of NBA stars, including Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingle and Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs, they suffered a setback on Monday 
when Jonah Bolden joined his teammate Ben Simmons in pulling out of the World Cup. 
Other Australian NBA standouts not playing include Thon Maker (NBA commitments), Ryan Broekhoff (birth of his child) and Dante Exum (injury).