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US Men’s Basketball Surges into Paris Olympics Quarterfinals

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US men's basketball headed to Paris Olympics quarterfinals


The U.S. basketball team secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics with a 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday. This match-up was significantly more controlled by the Americans compared to their previous encounter a few weeks ago.

Bam Adebayo scored 18 points and Kevin Durant contributed 14, key to a 25-4 run in the first half that set the tone. The win ensured the U.S. locked up the top seed in Group C and advanced to the knockout stage, joining teams like Canada, France, and Germany.

Anthony Edwards added 13 points, and LeBron James scored 12 for the U.S. South Sudan was led by Nuni Omot’s 21 points, Carlik Jones with 18, and Bul Kuol adding 16. These performances, however, weren’t enough to challenge the American dominance.

While the U.S. has already secured its advancement, their upcoming game against Puerto Rico carries weight. A spotless 3-0 record in group play would optimize their seeding, potentially ensuring a more favorable match-up in the quarterfinals. Puerto Rico, on the other hand, has been eliminated from further contention.

South Sudan’s final game in the group stage is against Serbia, which will be crucial for both teams’ Olympic futures. The quarterfinal draw is scheduled for Saturday night, and the games will be held on Tuesday in Paris.

South Sudan’s head coach Royal Ivey expressed a sense of surreal accomplishment after his team triumphed in its Olympic opener over Puerto Rico. As the youngest nation in the world, South Sudan’s narrative of defying immense odds to reach the Paris Games is a story that embodies the Olympic spirit.

Reflecting on past encounters, South Sudan’s near-upset over the U.S. in an exhibition game on July 20 in London — a tense 101-100 finish — was a dramatic prologue to this rematch. But, the anticipated sequel didn’t match the original thrill.

In Wednesday’s game, South Sudan started strong, leading briefly 7-6 and 10-8, only to see the U.S. pull away swiftly. A 3-pointer by Durant towards the end of the first quarter gave the U.S. a double-digit lead. Adebayo’s inside basket early in the second quarter capped off a decisive run, pushing the lead to 33-14, sealing the game’s outcome early on.

South Sudan managed to narrow the gap to ten points in the third quarter, but the U.S. retained a commanding 73-57 lead heading into the final period.

Much of the strategic intrigue unfolded before the game, as U.S. coach Steve Kerr shuffled his starting lineup. Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum replaced Jrue Holiday and Joel Embiid, with Embiid not seeing any playing time. Tyrese Haliburton also made his Olympic debut, contributing to an 11-man rotation that surged to a 55-36 halftime lead.