LeBron James, the all-time NBA scoring leader, scored 25 points, including the game-winning points, to help the USA narrowly defeat South Sudan 101-100 in a thrilling Olympic 2024 News warm-up game.
South Sudan’s Near Upset
South Sudan’s basketball team nearly delivered a stunning upset against a United States team full of NBA superstars on Saturday. The game, held at the O2 Arena in London, saw South Sudan lead 58-44 at half-time. They took a late lead after an 8-0 scoring run and were poised to pull off one of the greatest shocks in international basketball before LeBron James saved the day with a decisive layup with eight seconds remaining.
US Coach Steve Kerr’s Perspective
“The ending was good for us — just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to feel like in Paris,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “Good experience for us. Good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest experience of their lives and we have to expect everyone to play like that.”
Key Moments in the Game
J.T. Thor, who has played for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets for the past three seasons, hit a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to give South Sudan a 100-99 lead. However, James made the winning shot for the USA, and South Sudan had one final possession. Unfortunately for South Sudan, Carlik Jones missed a jumper, and Wenyen Gabriel missed two put-back attempts before the final buzzer.
“South Sudan was amazing,” Kerr said. “I did not do a great job of preparing my team. We did not focus enough on what they are capable of and that’s on me. I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early. Once we turned it up in the second half, they had already knocked down a bunch of threes and were feeling really good about themselves.”
LeBron James Leads the Comeback
LeBron James sparked a 23-5 US run from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth. “We have to continue to take a step forward,” said James, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time NBA champion. “A lot of these teams that we’re playing have been practising either one month or months in advance and we have maybe two weeks together. So every game, every film session, we get an opportunity. We have to try to make the most of it, not taking any steps back.”
Contributions from Other Players
Cameroon-born Joel Embiid, who became a US citizen in 2022, added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Americans. Anthony Davis came off the bench to produce 15 points and 11 rebounds for the US squad of NBA stars.
“We’re not 100 percent together, as we saw tonight,” Davis said. “But it’s like I said, everything is controllable.”
South Sudan’s Performance
For South Sudan, ranked 33rd in the world, Marial Shayok scored 24 points, Jones added 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Thor had 14 points off the bench. Shayok plays in China and briefly played alongside Embiid with Philadelphia while Jones plays for perennial Serbian power Partizan.
Looking Ahead
The Americans will face South Sudan again in the Olympic 2024 News on July 31 in Lille. This warm-up game highlighted the challenges and excitement that the upcoming Olympics will bring, with teams from around the world showcasing their talents and determination. Stay updated with the latest Olympic 2024 News from IPL365.
