The United States men's basketball team have lost for the first time in 13 years, falling to Australia 98-94 in a pre-World Cup exhibition game on Saturday.

Patty Mills scored 30 points for Australia, who rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half.

It was the first loss for the USA in a major international tournament or exhibition since the 2006 World Championship semi-finals against Greece.

Patty Mills scored 30 points for Australia, who rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half

Mills scored nine consecutive points for Australians in fourth quarter to help hosts pull away

Gregg Popovich's United States men's basketball team lost for the first time in 13 years

The Americans won the bronze medal game of that tournament, and then were unbeaten through the cycles for the 2007 FIBA Americas, 2008 Olympics, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Olympics, 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Add all that up, and it was a 78-game winning streak for the US - the longest in programme history. And it's now over.

USA Basketball is No 1 in FIBA's world rankings, but so far in the run-up to this World Cup - with most of the top NBA All-Stars deciding to not play this summer - the Americans have not looked like a lock for more gold.

Popovich reacts on the sidelines as his side lost their 78-game winning streak on Saturday

Kemba Walker of the USA reacts after falling during the game in Melbourne, Australia

USA's Jaylen Brown shoots the ball as Australia came out on top 98-94 on Saturday

They beat Spain by nine in Anaheim, California on August 16, needed a big second half to defeat Australia by 16 on Thursday, and then let a second-half lead slip away on Saturday.

Playing against his San Antonio coach, USA's Gregg Popovich, Mills scored nine consecutive points for the Australians in the fourth quarter to help the hosts pull away.

Kemba Walker scored 22 points for the US and Harrison Barnes scored 20.