Mavs’ Dante Exum And Australia Fall Short In Olympic Quarterfinals

The Australian men's basketball team, featuring Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum , saw their Olympic dreams come to an end on Tuesday as they fell to Serbia 95-90 in a thrilling overtime contest. Despite holding a commanding 24-point lead in the first half, the Aussies were unable to withstand a Serbian comeback led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Exum, who has been a bright spot for the Mavericks this season, put in a solid performance with 12 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and a block in 27 minutes of action. His efforts, combined with Patty Mills' game-high 26 points, weren't enough to secure victory for the Boomers.

The loss is particularly heartbreaking for Australia, who were looking to build on their bronze medal finish from the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Serbia, on the other hand, advances to the semifinals where they'll face the winner of the USA vs. Brazil matchup.

Jokic dominated the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 points to fuel Serbia's comeback. The Serbians outscored Australia 40-14 in a crucial third-quarter run that erased the large deficit and set the stage for the dramatic finish.

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For Exum, this Olympic experience adds another chapter to his basketball journey. After revitalizing his career with the Mavericks, he's shown he can contribute on the international stage as well.

While the result wasn't what he and his Australian teammates had hoped for, Exum's performance reinforces his value to both his national team and the Mavericks organization as his focus now turns to the upcoming season.