2024-08-01 08:55:02
The United States men’s basketball team will face South Sudan in its second group phase game of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France.
Team USA began Group C play with a 110-84 win over Serbia on Sunday. South Sudan is also 1-0 following a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Here’s what you need to know:
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The United States had three team fouls just three minutes into the fourth quarter, allowing South Sudan to capitalize and cut the USA’s lead to 12.
However, a slam dunk by Anthony Davis with six minutes left seemed to put the nail in the coffin, allowing Team USA to close out the game and go 2-0 and make it to the quarterfinals in Paris. South Sudan’s loss puts them at 1-1 in pool play.
Team USA made 37 field goals off 29 assists during the 17-point win. Adebayo led the United States with 18 points and seven rebounds and shot 8 of 10 from the floor. James finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Durant contributed 14 points off the bench
Omat led all scorers with 24 points for South Sudan after shooting 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Carlik Jones had 18 points and Shayok finished with 12.
The United States will wrap up pool play on Saturday against Puerto Rico.
After Team USA built a 19-point lead heading into the third quarter, South Sudan would make four consecutive shots, cutting the United States lead to 11.
The United States had five turnovers through the first two quarters but struggled to take care of the ball after halftime, tallying four turnovers midway through the third. However, despite early mistakes, Team USA was able to respond and close out the quarter.
Although Adebayo led the United States with 16, helping the team build back up a 16-point lead before the fourth, Stephen Curry, who went 0-for-4 from the 3-point line in the first half, continued to struggle in the third, scoring just one point through three quarters.
South Sudan outscored Team USA 21 to 18 in the third, with efforts led by Omot and Bul Kuol who have 16 and 13, respectively.
The United States’ bench carried the team through the first half, outscoring South Sudan’s bench 40 to 5.
Tyrese Haliburton made his 2024 Summer Olympic debut midway through the second quarter. Haliburton set the tone for Team USA after making back-to-back 3-pointers off his first and second touches of the Olympics, scoring six points in just over five minutes of playing time.
Bam Adebayo executed at every level for the United States in the second quarter. After scoring just two points in the first, Adebayo finished the half leading all scorers with 14, shooting 6 of 6 from the floor. James had 10 and Durant finished with nine.
Team USA had four blocks in the first half, was 10 of 13 from the free-throw line and had 17 assists. South Sudan shot 37% from the field, had eight assists and was 1 of 1 from the free-throw line.
Omot led South Sudan with 13.
After getting off to a 6-0 start, where LeBron James had two of Team USA’s three baskets, South Sudan regrouped after an early timeout.
Midway through the first quarter, South Sudan would go on a 5-0 run after Nuni Omot made a corner 3-pointer that put South Sudan up 10-8 over the United States. However, a unit off the bench led by Kevin Durant, would gradually build a 12-point cushion for Team USA in the first quarter.
The United States forced South Sudan to commit six turnovers in the first quarter, Durant would go 6-of-7 at the free throw line and James led the team with eight — the two outscored their opponent in the first quarter on their own. Marial Shayok led South Sudan with seven.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Haliburton did not play in the first quarter.
Team USA will start Devin Booker, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum and Stephen Curry. Davis and Tatum will replace Jrue Holiday and Joel Embiid who started during the United States’ last game against Serbia.
Kevin Durant, who scored 23 points and went 5-for-5 from the 3-point line coming off the bench against Serbia, will resume his role as Team USA’s sixth-man against South Sudan.
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