There are three reasons, or players, that Team USA is one win away from winning a gold medal after beating Serbia 95-91 on Thursday in semifinals,
Steph Curry, the first reason and player, delivered a game-changing performance. The two-time NBA MVP set the tone by scoring 14 of the team’s first 15 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3. He concluded the first quarter with an impressive 17 points (6-8 FG, 5-7 3FG), surpassing his previous highest-scoring total at the Olympics. His final tally for the game was a remarkable 36 points (12-19 FG, 9-14 3FG, 3-3 FT) and eight rebounds. His late three-pointer in the fourth quarter secured the lead for Team USA, a lead they held onto until the end.
Joel Embiid, the second reason, and player, played a crucial role in the game. His 19 points (8-11 FG, 2-3 3FG) included a personal 7-2 run that brought the game within one possession (84-82). Embiid’s defensive efforts against Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter were commendable. After a slow start, Embiid has averaged 16 points over the last three games for the USA.
The third reason, or player, is LeBron James. He messed around and grabbed his second Olympic career triple-double with 16 points (6-9 FG, 2-4 3FG, 2-3 FT), 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. In addition, his driving layup tied the game at 84 with just under four minutes to go, and he assisted on the Curry three, giving his team the lead for good. Furthermore, James made a layup that put Team USA up 89-86 with under two minutes left.
Ultimately, another former MVP, Kevin Durant, would put the game away with a jump shot with 34 seconds left, giving Team USA a 93-89 lead.
Anything can happen in a one-game scenario.
Team USA beat Serbia by 26 points on two occasions, during the USA Basketball Showcase and in Group Play, but Serbia, who led by as many as 17 points on Thursday, was 15/30 from deep in the first three quarters, which helped them build a big lead, including a 13-point lead heading into the fourth.
However, they fell apart in the fourth, as they were 0/9 from three-point range.
What a game! Now it’s time to finish it off, if they can, against France in the Gold Medal game on Saturday.
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