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USA Basketball-South Sudan: Highlights, more from dominant Paris Olympics win
By USA TODAY,
2024-07-31
There would be no upset this time – or even the threat of one – for the United States Olympic men’s basketball team.
Team USA left no doubt in its rematch against South Sudan, securing a 103-86 win in Group C pool play Wednesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat led the team with 18 points, 14 of which came before halftime when the American bench built an advantage South Sudan never could overcome. Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker and Derrick White all finished in double figures in scoring as well.
Team USA and South Sudan met in a thrilling Team USA Basketball showcase game that took a huge third-quarter comeback for the U.S. to get the victory. James , Team USA's captain, led the way in that one with 23 points.
This was the second game of group play for Team USA. In its first game, Team USA earned a 110-84 victory over Serbia powered by Durant 's incredibly efficient 23 points. Durant went 8-for-9 from the field, including 5-of-5 from three-point range. James had 21 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists in the win as well.
South Sudan won its opener 90-79 over Puerto Rico. Carlik Jones - who became the first player to record a triple-double against Team USA in that close showcase game - posted a team-high 19 points in the opening win.
This all but seals Team USA's spot in the knockout stage of the Olympic men's basketball tournament. South Sudan will need to win their group stage finale against Serbia to move on to the knockout rounds.
The Americans face Puerto Rico for their final group stage matchup on Saturday, Aug. 3. The game starts at 11:15 p.m. ET and will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. Team USA's quarterfinals game will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Its opponent and the time of the game will be determined based on how group play concludes.
Team USA shot 53% from the field as a team and ultimately cruised past South Sudan, 103-86, and into the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball tournament. Bam Adebayo led the Americans with 18 points, while Kevin Durant (14), Anthony Edwards (13), LeBron James (12), Devin Booker (10) and Derrick White (10) all finished in double figures in scoring.
Joel Embiid was the lone Team USA player to not appear in Wednesday's game. Jayson Tatum, who did not play in USA's first Olympics game, was in the starting lineup and had four points.
The United States has built an 87-68 lead with 6:20 to go in the fourth quarter. South Sudan's leading rebounder, Wenyen Gabriel, just fouled out and his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis had a beautiful pick-and-roll dunk courtesy of a pass from Kevin Durant.
After Team USA's starters took their foot off the gas defensively to begin the third quarter, its bench delivered again. The United States leads South Sudan, 73-57, heading into the fourth quarter after a lineup featuring Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and Bam Adebayo stabilized USA when its advantage dwindled to 10. Adebayo has a team-high 16 points and six rebounds and Team USA's bench has accounted for 53 points.
Derrick White is making timely plays again, just like he did during the Boston Celtics' NBA title run. White, a late addition to the roster in place of Kawhi Leonard, just hit a 3-pointer and forced a turnover after South Sudan cut its deficit to 10. Team USA leads 65-52 with 3:58 to go in the third quarter. Jrue Holliday came up limping after turning his ankle in transition at one point, but stayed in the game.
South Sudan has closed the gap with the United States to 60-49 in the opening five minutes of the third quarter. Bul Kuol and Nuni Omut hit consecutive 3-pointers for South Sudan to get the rally going. It forced Team USA coach Steve Kerr to go to a completely different lineup.
Anthony Davis started the second half for Team USA after leaving the game favoring his ankle late in the second quarter. He created a turnover in the opening two minutes, diving on the floor for the loose ball in a sequence that led to a lob in transition from Stephen Curry to Jayson Tatum.
The United States makes it look easy against South Sudan as they head into the second half of the game with a dominant lead. Team USA leads South Sudan 55-36.
Bam Adebayo has 14 points off the bench and is currently leading the USA in scoring in the final seconds of the second quarter. The USA is leading South Sudan 55-36.
In the final three minutes of the second quarter against South Sudan, Anthony Davis limped to the bench after South Sudan's Wenyen Gabriel landed on his foot during an attempted lob pass. Davis checked out, and Bam Adebayo entered the game in his place.
The USA is taking advantage of every offensive possession in their quest for gold. LeBron James leads the scoring with 10 points, and the USA is currently leading South Sudan 43-23 with 5:06 left in the second quarter.
US is again finding a difficult South Sudan opponent. The United States is leading South Sudan 12-10 early in the game, and the bench unit, including Kevin Durant, is now on the floor.
VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ, France – When South Sudan men’s 5x5 basketball player Peter Jok was 3 years old, his father, Dut, was killed in Sudan’s civil war. His grandfather also was killed in the war, and his family fled to Uganda and Kenya and eventually settled in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jok’s story is not unique to natives of what is now South Sudan.
“This means a lot to me individually than anything that I've ever been part of,” said Jok, who played college basketball at Iowa. “So every time I go out there, I know I got to make them proud and make the whole country proud.”
South Sudan plays the U.S. Wednesday (9 p.m. ET) in a Group C game, and the winner puts itself in great position to advance to the knockout round. The U.S. beat South Sudan 101-100 in an exhibition and South Sudan had a chance for the upset on the game’s final shot. Still, the U.S. is a 30-point favorite. - Jeff Zillgitt
USA vs. South Sudan: Time, TV, streaming and how to watch
Date: Wednesday, July 31
Time: 2:45 p.m. ET | 11:45 a.m. PT
Location: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France
Jul 28, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States guard Kevin Durant (7) after a game against Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports John David Mercer, John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Every event at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be aired live across NBC, USA Network, E!, CNBC, GOLF Channel, and there will be a Spanish broadcast on Universo and Telemundo. All events will be available to stream live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.
Date: July 24-Aug. 11
TV: Games broadcast across NBC, USA Network, E!, Telemundo, Universo, CNBC and Golf Channel
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