USA Basketball Makes Incredible Comeback to Beat Serbia, Advance to Olympics Gold Medal Match
August 8, 2024
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Team USA got a major scare in its semifinal matchup against Team Serbia Thursday.
Led by the de facto greatest basketball player in the world, three-time Denver Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic, Serbia trotted out to a stunning 54-43 first half advantage thanks mostly to the multifaceted offensive barrage of Jokic along with Atlanta Hawks sixth man guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Things looked dire even late into the fourth quarter, until a run by the U.S. helped the Americans return to the driver’s seat.
Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States collides into Nikola Jokic #15 of Team Serbia during a Men’s basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games… Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States collides into Nikola Jokic #15 of Team Serbia during a Men’s basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. Curry’s 3-point shooting kept the Americans alive for another round.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The 3-point shooting of Golden State Warriors All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, Phoenix Suns All-NBA power forward Kevin Durant, and his Suns All-Star shooting guard teammate Devin Booker, coupled with the finishing of Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA power forward James and Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid in the post, helped the Americans finally assert themselves at the tail end of the fourth quarter.
The U.S. went on a crucial 7-0 run to power their way back into the driver’s seat late in the fourth quarter, kicked off by a resplendent effort from Embiid. A LeBron James drive helped Team USA finally tie the game, 84-84, at the 3:37 mark in regulation.
A Stephen Curry triple gave the Americans their first lead in the second half just ahead of the two-minute mark, 87-86. Another LeBron James drive gave the U.S. its largest lead for the evening, 89-86 — which was instantly extended by a Stephen Curry steal for a coast-to-coast fast break finish.
Bogdanovic got the game within two points late at the 8.2-second mark. A pair of clutch Stephen Curry free throws helped put the Americans up by two possessions, and the U.S. held on to win. Curry’s 36 points were just a point shy of future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony’s all-time single-game scoring record of 37 points.
After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Americans won, 95-91, and will now face off against Team France in the gold medal game, as the team makes a bid for its fifth consecutive such honor.
Serbia, meanwhile, now heads to the bronze medal game, where it will face off against an NBA-heavy Team Germany.
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