USA Overcomes Serbia to Secure Gold Medal Game Spot
In a compelling semifinal clash at the 2024 Olympics, the USA men's basketball team mounted a stunning comeback to narrowly defeat Serbia, 95-91, securing their place in the gold medal game against France. The match, characterized by its dramatic momentum shifts, exhibited the resiliency and veteran prowess that the USA team had in abundance.
The game began with Serbia taking control early, building a significant lead that saw the USA trailing by as much as 17 points. Despite a formidable start by the Americans, Serbia held the advantage for over 35 minutes of the 40-minute contest, capitalizing on exceptional performances from Aleksa Avramovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ognjen Dobric. The Serbian trio shone from beyond the arc, putting immense pressure on the U.S. defense.
Nikola Jokic, Serbia's centerpiece, was instrumental, playing nearly the entire game. He finished with 17 points and a game-high 11 assists, orchestrating the offense and keeping the USA at bay for most of the game. Entering the final quarter, Serbia maintained a 13-point lead, seemingly in control and poised for victory.
However, the final quarter saw a drastic turnaround, spearheaded by USA coach Steve Kerr, who opted to rely heavily on his seasoned veterans. Kerr's strategy paid off as the experienced lineup put forth a valiant effort, shutting down Serbia's offense and outscoring them 32-15 in the period. Notably, this comeback included Serbia missing all nine of their 3-point attempts in the decisive fourth quarter.
"Having spent most of the Olympics playing a deep rotation, U.S. coach Steve Kerr relied heavily on his veterans with the game on the line," an observer noted. This tactical shift was epitomized by the contributions of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker, who were pivotal in the closing moments of the game.
Stephen Curry delivered a phenomenal performance, hitting nine 3-pointers, the second-most by a U.S. men's basketball player in Olympic history. Curry finished with 36 points, providing the offensive firepower needed to surge ahead. “James, meanwhile, was everywhere down the stretch. Playing the entire fourth quarter, he had six points, six rebounds and four assists and finished with his second career Olympics triple-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists,” accounts reported. LeBron James's all-around performance, alongside Curry’s scoring spree, was instrumental in the USA's success.
Kevin Durant, who ended up as the only U.S. player with a positive plus-minus in the semifinals, also made significant contributions, especially in the critical moments. Furthermore, coach Kerr's sole substitution in the fourth quarter, bringing Joel Embiid in for Anthony Davis, proved to be a defensive masterstroke as Embiid shored up the paint and fortified the USA's defensive stance.
One noteworthy element was Derrick White's limited playtime, totaling just under seven minutes, during which the USA was outscored by 16 points. This underlined the impact of the veterans and the crucial decisions made by Kerr to secure the win.
With this victory, the USA advances to the gold medal game where they will face France. This matchup promises to be another intense contest, featuring some of the best basketball talents from around the globe. As they prepare for this final challenge, the USA team will undoubtedly draw confidence from their extraordinary comeback against Serbia, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity and perform under pressure.
The gold medal game is set, and if the semifinals are any indication, it will be a spectacle filled with thrilling basketball and high stakes as these elite teams battle for the top prize in Olympic basketball.