Paris Olympics 2024: US men’s basketball team narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of Serbia

The U.S. was in trouble against Serbia, and its streak of consecutive Olympic gold medals looked like it might end at four. Then, the U.S. tightened its defense, found scoring at the right time, and overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Serbia 95-91 in an intense semifinal game Thursday.

Team USA 95 – 91 Serbia summary:

The US men’s basketball team nearly suffered a huge shock on Thursday night as they narrowly escaped defeat at Serbia’s hands in the Paris Olympics semi-final.

Serbia had led for 35:12, nearly 90% of the game.  The U.S. trailed Serbia 76-63 to start the fourth quarter and possession by possession wore down Serbia. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker started the comeback with consecutive 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, and the U.S. unloaded its offensive firepower with four MVPs on the court: Durant, James, Steph Curry, and Joel Embiid alongside Booker. The U.S. used a 24-8 run to take a 91-86 lead with 1:41 left in the fourth quarter.

Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 20 points, while Jokić had 17 and 11 assists. Joel Embiid, who has been heartily booed through the tournament after choosing to play for the US over hosts France, had 19 points.

Let’s take our hats off to Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and the rest of the Serbian team. They didn’t just come out and compete. They almost beat one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

But if anyone played the most important role, it was Stephen Curry. ‘Godlike’ Curry saves USA from seismic Olympic basketball shock at the hands of Serbia with his heroic 36 points.

Despite the defeat, Serbia deserves praise:

This was the third meeting between Team USA and Serbia this summer. The U.S. men had comfortably taken both previous matchups, winning an exhibition in Abu Dhabi 105-79 and the opening game of group play, 110-84. But in this semi-final, Serbia almost won this match.

The combination made Serbia look like the biggest test for Team USA, which was expected to enter the Olympics.

Post-match interview:

U.S. coach Steve Kerr said after the match, “I am humbled to have been a part of this game, It’s one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever been a part of. They were perfect. They played the perfect game, and they forced us to reach the highest level of competition that we could find, our guys were incredible in that fourth quarter and they got it done. I’m so proud of the team.”

LeBron James said, ” We knew it was going to be difficult, We knew Serbia was going to give us everything they had”

Durant said of Curry, “That was a godlike performance”

The US will play France in the final:

The U.S. men’s basketball team is just one win away from a historic fifth gold medal. The US will play France in the final after the hosts beat Germany 73-69 in the other semi-final in front of a raucous home crowd.

Host nation France, fresh off a win over Germany and with a raucous home crowd at its back. It’s a rematch of the Tokyo final with everything on the line and some of the biggest stars in the sport.

There will be plenty of star power for both sides. France features two elite big men Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert. LeBron James has continued to be the best player for Team USA, Steph Curry has finally made his presence felt in the semifinals, and Kevin Durant has been an unfair option off the bench.

Team USA is good, but it is beatable. They needed every ounce of talent to get by Serbia in a 95-91 thriller. France represents the toughest opponent that they have faced.

France already beat a roster filled with NBA players in Canada to get to this point, taking down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and crew 82-73 in the quarterfinals and a favored Germany team 73-69 in the semifinals.

So what do you think, will the U.S. win a fifth gold medal, or will host France be underdog and end the US’s 4th consecutive gold medal streak?