Nikola Jokic scored 21 points and 14 rebounds as Serbia rallied to defeat Australia 95-90 in overtime Tuesday, advancing to the Olympic basketball semifinals.

Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17 points for Serbia, which overcame a 24-point first-half deficit to face either the United States or Brazil.

Serbia is hoping for its first Olympic medal since the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where it won silver. That was Jokic’s first Olympics, at the age of 21.

Patty Mills scored 26 points for Australia, but only six after halftime. Australia earned the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.

 

Jokic pushed Serbia ahead, 91-90, with just over a minute remaining in overtime. Australia’s Jack McVeigh subsequently misfired on his next possession. Serbia returned the ball to Jokic, who converted again.

Australia attempted to get the ball into Mills on the inbounds, but Serbia pushed it away and stole it.

Serbia roared back in the third quarter, retaking the lead late, 61-60, on Bogdanovic’s jumper. The basket ended a 40-14 scoring run.

 

Serbia led 67-65 entering the fourth quarter and 81-78 after Josh Giddey nailed a short jumper to trim the lead to a point with little over a minute remaining in regulation.

 

Australia recovered after a Bogdanovic miss, but Mills struggled on the other end. Australia forced an error from Vasilije Micic, but he was discovered on the rebound with 9.8 seconds remaining.

He subsequently made 1 of 2 free throws

 

 

Australia got the ball to Mills, who fumbled his dribble, gathered and nailed a fallaway jumper to send the game into overtime.

 

Mills, 35, is one of the most decorated players in Australian basketball history and has earned a reputation for spectacular games in international play.

 

He had been fairly quiet in France, scoring just over 13 points per game and shooting 35% from the field.

He found his shot on Tuesday, scoring 20 points in the first half on 8-of-11 shooting as Australia took a commanding early lead.