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PARIS – The U.S. men’s basketball team will face Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the semifinals of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The Americans beat the Serbs in the first game of these games, while LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry are in the hunt for a fifth consecutive gold medal for the USA. So far, they have played these games comfortably, winning by an average of nearly 25 points per game.
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PARIS – The United States suffered its largest deficit of the Olympics in the first half against Serbia and now faces its toughest test in the final two quarters of this semifinal match.
Serbia held a 54-43 lead at halftime and was ahead 42-25 in the second quarter. Strong three-point shooting put Serbia in a favorable position. They made 10 of 19 three-point shots and hit 54% of their shots from the field.
The US offense wasn’t bad (48% from the field, 47% on three-point shots), but couldn’t keep up with Serbia’s shooting percentage.
Steph Curry scored 17 of his 20 points in the first quarter and LeBron James finished the half with nine points, five assists and three rebounds. Joel Embiid had seven points and Jrue Holiday had five assists. Kevin Durant shot just once in the first half and didn’t score. That will be something to watch in the second half as the U.S. looks to cut the deficit.
Aleksa Avramovic led his team in scoring with 15 points and made four 3-pointers for Serbia. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 12 points and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had nine points, seven assists and three rebounds.
PARIS — The United States is in a dangerous position, trailing Serbia 42-25 with 6:24 left in the second quarter. It’s the largest U.S. deficit of the Olympics, and the Americans are hitting just 40 percent of their shots from the field while allowing 63 percent of their shots.
PARIS – Serbia overcame Steph Curry’s strong shot early in the game with a strong 3-pointer and had a 31-23 lead over the United States after the first quarter.
Curry made five of his first six shots for 14 points. He finished the quarter with a game-high 17 points (6 of 8 shots, including 5 of 7 threes). However, Serbia countered Curry’s shooting with five threes in the quarter. Only four players scored for the USA, and only Curry scored more than once.
Aleksa Avramovic had eight points and Nikola Jokic had six points and five assists for Serbia, which had nine assists on 11 goals.
PARIS — Steph Curry scored 14 of the U.S.’s first 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He hit four of five three-pointers to start the game, but Serbia leads 23-18 with 3:45 left in the first quarter.
Serbia scores three-point shots: 5 out of 6 at the start of the game.
United States:
- Jrue Holiday
- Stephanie Curry
- Lebron James
- Joel Embiid
- Devin Booker
Serbia:
- Nikola Jokic
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Ognjen Dobric
- Filip Petrusev
- Aleksa Avramovic
Dignitaries present at USA vs Serbia match
- Adam Silver
- Travis Scott
- Paul Gasol
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Carmelo Anthony
- Tony Parker
- Yannick Noah
- Sue Vogel
- Megan Rapinoe
PARIS – LeBron James wears a large bandage next to his left eye while warming up before the semifinal match against Serbia.
James took a left elbow strike to the eye from Brazil’s Georginho De Paula with 5:41 left in the third period as the U.S. led 74-51 in Tuesday’s quarterfinal match. James said he was fine after the game.
The U.S. men’s 5×5 basketball team will face Serbia in the semifinals for the third time in three weeks. The U.S. defeated Serbia 105-79 in a friendly match on July 17 and beat Serbia 110-84 in the first game of Group C on July 28.
“Serbia is really good,” said U.S. coach Steve Kerr. “We can’t get complacent because we beat them twice. We have to be ready for their best performances. We have to think about what they will do differently.”
Serbia’s success is built on two players – three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. The U.S. wants to cut off Jokic’s passing lanes and prevent Serbia from making too many three-pointers.
With their squad, the USA will score points. They will make enough stops that will determine their success in the semifinals. It is another important game for the big US players Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo.
Predictions:
Jeff Zillgitt: USA 91, Serbia 77
Dan Clouds: USA 83, Serbia 70
PARIS — LeBron James and Diana Taurasi know they’re old by basketball standards. They’re aware of it because people don’t stop telling them.
The joke that they’re the grandpas and grandmas of the U.S. team? You’ve heard that before. The comment that they’re some of the most experienced veterans of these games? You’ve heard that before. They’re the elder statesman and elder stateswoman of U.S. basketball, longtime pillars seeking their third and sixth gold medals, respectively.
James and Taurasi’s Olympic connection is also unique, as both made their Olympic debut in Athens in 2004. James was 19 at the time and Taurasi was 22. However, Taurasi is quick to point out that James “missed a few games” along the way.
— Lindsey Quick
The USA vs Serbia matches will begin at 3:00 p.m. ET. The USA Network will televise the game. The game will be streamed live on Peacock or Fubo.
US Olympic men’s basketball team is packed with LeBron James and Steph Curry
The US Olympic team, packed with NBA stars, is hoping for its fifth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Games.
US men’s basketball team schedule
Here are the games the U.S. men have played so far.
US basketball team roster
- Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- Derrick White, Boston Celtics
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Olympic Basketball Bracket
Here is the current schedule for the men’s Olympic basketball tournament.
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