USA Basketball’s 78-game streak snapped; Barnes scores 20

USA Basketball is human after all.

After more than a decade of dominance, Australia stunned the USA 98-94 in a tune-up exhibition matchup before the FIBA World Cup.

It was the first loss since 2006 for the American national team in a major competition since falling to Greece on its way to a bronze medal finish in the 2006 World Cup.

Since then, USA Basketball has rarely been challenged with NBA players on the floor on its way to 78 straight victories, including three Olympic gold medals.

Overshadowed in the loss was a terrific night for Harrison Barnes, who scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes, hitting 7 of 12 attempts from from the field.

USA will play one more exhibition game vs. Canada on Monday in Australia before beginning World Cup play on Sept. 1 vs. Czech Republic in China.

Afterward, Barnes took questions alongside Greg Popovich.

.@usabasketball head coach Gregg Popovich and Harrison Barnes speak to the media after falling to the Australian Boomers 🎙️#BoomersUSA pic.twitter.com/EBZGpLhgff
— NBL (@NBL) August 24, 2019

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