Josh Giddey stars again but Australian Boomers suffer injury scare in pre-Olympics hit out win

The Australian Boomers have cruised past Puerto Rico 90-75 in their third pre-Olympics exhibition game in Orléans but suffered an injury scare in the process to a key NBA star. 

Aussie fans had their hearts in their throats when injury-prone NBA star Dante Exumlanded awkwardly in the first quarter, colliding with teammate Duop Reath and appearing to injure his neck. 

Exum was taken out of the game as a precaution to ensure his availability for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.

Josh Giddey led the Boomers with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds, and providing five assists. 

Giddey, who recently joined the Chicago Bulls, continued to show his prowess as the offensive cornerstone for the Australian team. 

Despite a turnover early in the game, Giddey showcased his long-distance shooting ability, hitting two out of three attempts from beyond the arc.

The Boomers displayed a well-rounded team effort, with five players scoring in double figures. 

Patty Mills contributed 15 points, hitting five of nine three-point attempts. Jock Landale added 12 points and six rebounds, while Joe Ingles was perfect from the three-point line, scoring 11 points. 

Josh Green, stepping up in Exum's absence, scored 10 points, collected two rebounds, and dished out two assists.

Green's three-point shooting and ability to run the floor were crucial for the Boomers. 

Dyson Daniels continued to lead defensively, showcasing his skills over the warm-up games. 

Duop Reath, who played 11 minutes, and Will Magnay, who played just over 12 minutes, also contributed after riding the pine for the first two hit-outs against USA and Serbia.

The Boomers' teamwork was evident, with the team combining for 30 assists and scoring 21 fast-break points. 

However, turnovers remain a concern, with the team committing 15 in this game. 

Despite this, the Boomers have shown they are ready by holding their opponents to less than 76 points in back-to-back games.

Jack McVeigh, who recently signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, scored nine points off the bench. 

Dyson Daniels added five points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. 

Reath, who had been out of the rotation for the last two games, played as a backup to Landale, challenging Magnay for the reserve center role. The lopsided victory allowed coach Brian Goorjian to give more players time on the court.

This game continued the Boomers' promising preparation, following a challenging game against the USA and a victory over Serbia. 

Australia's final warm-up game will be against host nation France, featuring stars Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, before they open their Olympic campaign on July 27 against Spain.

Australia's inclusion in the 'Group of Death' at the Olympics, alongside Greece, Canada, and Spain, makes their path to a medal challenging. 

However, the Boomers remain one of the top contenders to advance from this group, and their performance in the warm-up games has shown they are a team to watch.