Serbia’s captain claims US got ‘help’ from referees in Olympics clash

Team Serbia captain Bogdan Bogdanovic wasn’t happy with his perceived lopsided officiating in Thursday’s loss to Team USA in the basketball semifinal game.

Bogdanovic explained his frustration — after the Americans rallied back from 17 points down — and claimed Serbia didn’t receive the “help” that the U.S. did when things got physical.

“We tried to talk to them [the referees]. They just walked away,” Bogdanovic, who plays for the Atlanta Hawks, told BasketNews after the game . “But it’s ok.

“The USA doesn’t need that type of help against us. You know, we didn’t have that type of help when they were grabbing us with two hands and all that.

“We played the best we could. We could have made a few more shots and saved a few more possessions at the end, but that’s basketball.”

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Bogdanovic, who finished with 20 points, now is focused on Serbia’s bronze medal game against Germany on Saturday.

“In two days, we need to recover and fight for the bronze. It’s going to be a tough one against Germany for sure, but we need to play the best game that we can,” he said.

On Thursday, Team USA had crucial contributions on both ends of the floor from four former NBA MVPs in Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid.

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Curry finished with 36 points, tied for second-most by a U.S. men’s player at the Olympics all-time, per ESPN stats.

The Warriors star had been scuffling in Paris and entered the game with 29 total points in four games.

James recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Durant, who is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympics history, came alive in the fourth quarter with nine points.

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Embiid had 19 points and was recruited specifically to guard Serbian star Nikola Jokic, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Team USA trailed Serbia by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter, but they held Serbia to 0-9 from three in the fourth.

“We came back and showed how we were together in that fourth quarter,” Durant said after the game during a private celebration with Team USA.

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said the Americans played the “perfect” game.

Kerr also explained he was “nervous” going into the semifinals game after Team USA had two “easy” wins over Serbia in their prior matchups.

They beat Serbia by 26 points in their two prior meetings this summer, first in a pre-Olympic exhibition and then in pool play in Paris.

Team USA will face France in the gold medal game on Saturday at 3:30 pm.

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