In an unexpected turn of events, the highly favored Team USA Men's Basketball narrowly escaped with a 98-92 victory against Australia in an exhibition game leading up to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The intense matchup has raised questions about the team's performance and their road to Olympic gold.

The game started with a slow offensive start for Team USA, reminiscent of the issues faced by the Golden State Warriors in the past NBA season. Turnovers plagued the team during their previous game against Canada, hindering their performance. However, they seemed to have resolved this problem as they only committed one turnover in the first quarter against Australia.

Head coach Steve Kerr made a significant change to the starting lineup, replacing Devin Booker with Anthony Edwards and Jrue Holiday with Jayson Tatum. This decision proved fruitful, as Edwards, the team's leading scorer in their first game, made an immediate impact in the starting lineup. He scored 11 of Team USA's first 19 points, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.

By halftime, Team USA had established a comfortable 16-point lead with a score of 53-37. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for Coach Kerr to experiment with different strategies and lineups. However, the game took an unexpected turn in the second half.

The team's performance deteriorated significantly in the final two quarters, with turnovers becoming a major issue once again. Team USA committed 12 turnovers in the second half, seven in the third quarter and five in the fourth. This alarming statistic is reminiscent of the struggles faced by the Golden State Warriors during the NBA season.

Despite Anthony Edwards' impressive start in the first quarter, his performance wavered in the second half. He went 1 of 7 from the field, including missing both of his 3-point attempts. This decline, coupled with Australia's relentless pursuit, allowed them to chip away at Team USA's lead and bring the game within striking distance.

The close call against Australia will undoubtedly prompt Team USA to analyze their performance and address the recurring turnovers issue. With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on the horizon, they will need to find stability and consistency to compete against the world's best basketball teams.

As the road to Paris continues, Team USA must view this exhibition game as a valuable learning experience. Their victory, albeit hard-fought, highlights the challenges they may face on the quest for Olympic gold. The team's management and coaching staff will undoubtedly use this game as motivation and make the necessary adjustments to ensure a stronger performance in the upcoming competition.