PARIS (AP) — Down by 11 points in the fourth quarter, against what seemed like overwhelming odds, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team found a spark.
Six points in two seconds.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker provided a wild lineup to start the comeback, Stephen Curry had the most scoring night in U.S. Olympic history, and the Americans would be playing for gold. Paris Games. The United States defeated Serbia 95-91 in the semifinals of the Classic on Thursday night.
LeBron James had the fourth triple-double in Olympic history for the United States, which rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit and faced an 11-point halftime deficit — the first American team to successfully overcome it since NBA players were added to the Olympics. Mix in 1992.
“I’ve seen a lot of Team USA basketball,” Curry said. “That’s special.”
Serbia lead by 11 at 7:19. The rest of the way, the Americans held a lead of 3 minutes, 25 seconds to win the game. Serbia 35:12 – leading almost 90% of the game.
But that would be America against host France Serbia will face Germany earlier on Saturday for bronze in a dream tournament for the country on Saturday. The gold medal game was a rematch of the Tokyo Games three years earlier. The Americans won there 87-82.
“I’m very humbled to be a part of this game,” said US coach Steve Kerr, who tipped his hat to Serbia several times. “That was one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever been in. They were perfect. They played perfect. Villanova-Georgetown to all our old readers and viewers,” our coaches said.
“But they played the right game, and they forced us to reach the highest level of competition we’ll ever see. Our guys were unbelievable in that fourth quarter, and they did it.
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Joel Embiid scored 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting, and James added 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for a team that is now assured of its 20th medal in 20 Olympic games.
“Joel is everything,” said James, who has two of the four triple-doubles in Olympic men’s history; He also had one in 2012, while Aleksandar Belov of the Soviet Union in 1976 and Luka Doncic of Slovenia in 2021 had the others. “Made every big shot.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points for Serbia, which got 17 from Nikola Jokic and 15 from Aleksa Avramovic. The Serbians are 0-3 against the U.S. this summer, falling in their first two meetings and then setting up for their own win on Thursday.
The entire game changed in the fourth after a wild streak in which the US scored six points in two seconds. Durant made a 3-pointer when Anthony Davis was fouled. A foul earned the U.S. another possession, and Booker promptly made another 3-pointer.
Just like that, Serbia’s 78-67 lead was reduced to 78-73. The comeback began, and Curry’s 3 put America up for good. He made a pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, and the Americans escaped.
Curry’s 36 points were the second-most points in a US men’s game in Olympic history, just shy of Carmelo Anthony’s record of 37 against Nigeria in 2012. When the Americans tied it with about 3:35 left, Curry gave Anthony a big smile. Anthony jumped out of his seat as the 3 forwards roared home. When it was over, the two shared a long hug.
“That was a goddamn performance,” Durant said of Curry.
Serbia’s coach Svetislav Pedic has been saying the same thing all summer, that the team the United States assembled for the Paris Games is better than any in Olympic history. Even the Dream Team, he insisted. Even after this he did not change his mind.
“They’re very nice,” he said.
A barrage of Serbian 3-pointers kept the Americans squarely on the ropes until the game turned in the fourth. But in the end, the U.S. went 144-6 in Olympic play, 63-4 since NBA players were added to the Olympics in 1992.
“Persistence, dedication to hard work, Chef Curry and Joel ‘The Process’ Embiid,” James said. “A big win for us. We knew we were going to be challenged. We knew it was going to be a tough game to date. Full effort.”
Gold was the goal, but that didn’t stop America from celebrating once the team returned to the hotel. Down 42-25 at one point and down 11 in the fourth, the Americans outscored the Serbs 32-15 in the final quarter.
“I know we want to win gold, but you have to celebrate the little moments,” Durant said. Video distributed by USA Basketball He grabbed a post-game meal just after midnight Next to his mother, Wanda. “I guarantee you, everyone here, they will never forget this night. Everyone here will remember this night for the rest of their lives. That’s how special it is.”
The comeback kept alive Durant’s hopes of becoming the first four-time Olympic men’s gold medalist and gave the United States a chance to return to the top of international basketball. The Americans finished fourth in last summer’s World Cup, a result that prompted some NBA stars like James and Curry to be a part of the team.
And of all American semifinal moments, this one was like few. The four-point margin of victory in an Olympic semifinal is the second-closest in U.S. history; In the 2000 semifinals in Sydney, the United States defeated Lithuania by two points.
They are far from one success to another.
“I’m 39 years old, going into my 22nd season, and I don’t know how many opportunities and moments I’m going to have to compete for something, compete for something big, play big games,” James said. . “A big game tonight.”
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
