PARIS (AP) — All the favorites in the first three quarterfinals of men’s basketball at the Paris Olympics have struggled. Canada lost to France. Serbia erased a 24-point deficit to beat Australia. Germany had to overcome a double-digit deficit before beating Greece.
So, heading into the fourth and final game of the night, the United States knew what they had to do.
“We wanted to go out there and make sure we were the aggressor,” U. S. coach Steve Kerr said.
They also made things easier. Devin Booker led a balanced front with 18 points and the Americans were unsuccessful with Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, winning 122-87 on Tuesday.
The United States (4-0) will face Serbia (3-1) in Thursday’s semifinal, while Germany (4-0) will face France (3-1) in the other semifinal. The winners of those matches will play Saturday night for the gold medal; Thursday’s losers will play Saturday morning for the bronze medal.
“Everyone expects us to win,” said American forward Jayson Tatum. “But you don’t take things for granted, do you?” Canada lost early. It’s another game. It’s not like the playoffs, where it’s a series. We have a game and a lot can happen in a single game, especially here.
If there’s any problem, it’s this: LeBron James left in the third quarter after hitting his elbow around his left eye, and ran into Brazilian Georginho de Paula while going for a rebound. James came down, eventually pressed a towel to his eye and went to the locker room later in the third.
Kerr said James 4 points.
“I’m fine,” James says. Without realizing it, I hit myself with an elbow around my eye. “
Anthony Edwards scored 17 points, while Joel Embiid (booed in France, of course) had 14 points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes in the first half for the Americans. Anthony Davis finished with thirteen points and eight rebounds for the United States. James had 12 problems and nine assists.
Kevin Durant earned 11 points and surpassed Lisa Leslie as the leader of the United States Olympic race, for either men or women. Leslie has 488 numbers in her 4 Olympic appearances, all of which ended with medals approved. Durant will also go 4-for-4 on the passing front; they are two wins away from achieving it.
“He’s amazing. He was born to play baseball and he’s just amazing,” James said. “I’m satisfied for him. Congratulations to him. I’m super proud of him. And it still has a lot to do.
There was a time when Brazil might have had an idea that it had a chance. The United States had only eight problems in the middle of the second quarter. A large deficit had become quite manageable.
The moment did not last long.
A 21-2 run in the final 3:56 of the half turned things into a predictable eruption state. That eliminated any doubts that had existed (let’s be honest, there weren’t many, if any) and the United States fulfilled that eighth. -point advantage for a score of 63-36 heading into the last 20 minutes.
Bruno Caboclo The star of Brazil, leader in scoring with 30 points.
Playing in Paris for the first time at those Games, the crowd was smaller (the arena used for the three matches at the organizational level is almost twice as large as that used for the qualifiers), but considering what was at stake, the turnout actually seemed more stellar. -studded.
Retired U. S. Olympic basketball star Carmelo Anthony and his son, Kiyan, were there, sitting next to Pau Gasol in courtside VIP seats. American female star A’ja Wilson sat next to Snoop Dogg, who is the unofficial ambassador for all things Team USA. U. S. in those Olympics.
They came here for a show. They have one. James led the advance of the final half, and that was essentially the game.
“Bron just threw some money around,” UConn female star Paige Bueckers introduced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and she wasn’t wrong. He made four of four in the part from the court, 2 of 2 from the line, 10 great points and 8 assists.
James returned to the bench with about 3 minutes remaining, after being treated after that shot to the face.
And the Parisian crowd roared.
Maybe it’s because James is fine. Maybe it’s because, at the same time, French Olympic swimming star Léon Marchand, winner of 4 gold medals at those Paris Games, is also on the scoreboard.
Still, they had reason to rejoice.
“Now it’s the medal games,” Booker said. “I want to pass the level. ”