Japan's men wasted an early lead in the first of their two Olympic warm-up games against an inexperienced Australia squad, a 90-89 loss on Saturday.
The Akatsuki Five, ranked 26th in the world, led 27-13 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter on a Keisei Tominaga three-pointer at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, a lead that steadily dwindled until the Boomers took a 68-66 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Boomers, ranked fifth but without their NBA players, were led by 26 points from big man Sam Froling.
Japan trailed by as many as six points with 1 minute, 32 seconds left, before coming back to tie it 86-86 on a pair of Tominaga free throws with 28 seconds on the clock.
Japan was set to lose by four before Yuki Togashi sank a long-range three at the buzzer.
The teams play again at the same venue on Sunday.
