LeBron James saved United States from what would have been a staggering loss.
James’ layup with 8 seconds left the opening basket on Saturday, and the soon-to-be Olympian U. S. team in Paris cruised to a 101-100 victory over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit. to avoid perhaps the biggest disappointment in the show’s history.
South Sudan, an African country that gained independence thirteen years ago and is about to compete in the Olympics for the first time, led for more than part of the game and had a chance to win at the end. But running back Carlik Jones missed the game with about four seconds left and the Americans survived.
“I’ll be honest: I like them more than eruptions,” James said as he left the field. “At least we’re getting tested. “
– NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2024
Oh, they were put to the test, via a team that entered the game as 43. 5-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
“It’s a smart reminder that when we play teams, it’s the most important game of their lives,” U. S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to expect everyone to play like that. “
Down 16 at one point, the Americans climbed out of that hole on an 18-0 run in the second half; Anyway, they did some heroics in the finale. A 3-pointer by JT Thor with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the Americans called a timeout and put the ball in James’ hands.
He made it look easy: he waited, waited, waited, and then drove and combined everything with ease to put the United States back on top, and at the end of it all, Americans got the support they needed.
James finished with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists for the United States, which moved to 4-0 with one game left (Monday against World Cup champion Germany) on its pre-Olympic exhibition tour. Anthony Davis added 15 points for the Americans.
Marial Shayok led all scorers with 25 points for South Sudan and Jones had a triple-double: 15 points, rebounds and assists.
They will face each other in groups at the Paris Olympics on July 31.
“It’s basketball. It happens,” U. S. point guard Stephen Curry said. You have to play perfectly each and every one of the games; it does not happen. But can you dig deep and do the little things that will help you win?The offense can come and go, but the defense is what helps you win championships, medals, all of that.
#USABMNT’s victory over South Sudan ⤵️ pic. twitter. com/iJFNk2HduU
– NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2024
There has been a delay, and during the first part it was, but not in the way you expected.
The United States roster has 12 players, all All-Stars or NBA champions or both, with a total of 189,038 appearances in their regular-season careers, with 7,832 combined starts. South Sudan has 4 players who have played in an NBA game. in total 1,228 numbers and started 19 games.
It didn’t matter. It was 8-0 in the United States after 2 1/2 minutes. Rest of part: South Sudan 58, United States 34. The Americans allowed South Sudan to shoot 61 percent in the first half and were outscored 21-3 by Diversity 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
“I haven’t done a wonderful job of getting our team ready,” Kerr said. “We don’t focus enough on what they’re capable of, and that’s my fault. I think that helped South Sudan gain confidence quickly. . . They played a magnificent game and the end was smart for us, just to feel that, to feel what it will be like in Paris and Lille.
An 18-0 run in the second half, with James involved for the most part, kept the United States going, turning a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead.
South Sudan led by 16 at the end of the first half (58-42) before the Americans won the final basket to cut the deficit to 14 at halftime.
But 18-0 was the key. James had 4 assists and Curry, from about 35 feet away, scored a three-point basket in the third quarter that gave the United States its first lead since the first quarter at 79-76.
Wenyen Gabriel hit a 3-pointer to pull South Sudan within 85-84, but James, his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, hit a 3-pointer on the resulting American possession, and the Americans nonetheless managed to get out. of him through the thinner of the two. Margins.
Davis said the team arrived late to the arena, disrupted by blocked traffic in London and pregame routines were disrupted. Perhaps, however, South Sudan proved to the United States that no one at the Olympics would concede anything to the four-time gold protector. Medalists.
“It doesn’t matter how close the game is,” James said. “We went there to get better. “