Nikola Jokic powers Serbia to overtime victory against Australia

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PARIS (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Serbia surged back to beat Australia 95-90 in overtime Tuesday to reach the Olympic basketball semifinals.

Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 for points for Serbia, which rallied from a 24-point first-half deficit to set up a meeting with either the U.S. or Brazil.

Serbia is aiming for its first Olympic medal since the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where it took home silver. That was the first Olympics for a then 21-year-old Jokic.

Patty Mills had 26 points —- but just six after halftime —- for Australia, which won the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.

Jokic put Serbia on top, 91-90, with just over a minute left in overtime. Australia’s Jack McVeigh then misfired on its next possession. Serbia got the ball back to Jokic, who converted again.

Australia attempted to get the ball into Mills on the inbounds, but it was knocked away and stolen by Serbia.

Serbia’s stormed back in the third quarter and retook the lead late, 61-60, on a jumper by Bogdanovic. The basket capped a 40-14 scoring run.

Serbia led 67-65 entering the fourth and was up 81-78 when Josh Giddey hit a short jumper to cut the margin to a point with just over a minute to play in regulation.

Australia rebounded a Bogdanovic miss, but Mills misfired on the other end. Australia forced a Vasilije Micic error, but he was found on the rebound with 9.8 seconds left. He then connected on 1 of 2 free throws.

Australia got the ball into Mills, who lost his dribble, gathered and hit a fallaway jumper to send the game to an extra frame.

At 35 and playing in his fifth Olympics, Mills is one of the most decorated players in Australian basketball history and had developed a penchant for big games in international play.

He’d been mostly quiet in France, averaging just over 13 points per game, while shooting 35% from the field.

He found his shot Tuesday, scoring 20 points in the first half on 8-for-11 shooting as Australia raced to a big early lead.