US Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over Brazil in Thrilling Showdown

Devin Booker led a balanced front with 18 points and the Americans had little trouble with Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.

PARIS, France — For a brief moment, it seemed Brazil might have a chance. Trailing the U.S. by only eight points halfway through the second quarter, Brazil managed to narrow what had initially looked like an insurmountable gap.

But that moment quickly faded.

A devastating 21-2 run over the final 3:56 of the first half put the game beyond reach. The U.S. rolled to a commanding 122-87 victory on Tuesday night. Devin Booker led a balanced American squad with 18 points, ensuring the team’s 20th consecutive Olympic semifinal appearance.

The U.S. (4-0) will face Serbia (3-1) in Thursday’s semifinals, while Germany (4-0) takes on France (3-1) in the other matchup. The winners will battle for the gold medal on Saturday night, with the losers competing for bronze earlier that day.

The only sour note came when LeBron James caught an elbow around his left eye from Brazil’s Georginho de Paula while vying for a rebound. James exited to the locker room for treatment in the third quarter. By the time he left, the game was well in hand, with the U.S. holding a commanding lead.

Brazil’s Bruno Caboclo was the game’s top scorer, putting up 30 points despite the loss.

A strong American team ensured the win. Anthony Edwards contributed 17 points, while Joel Embiid added 14 points and seven rebounds in just 12 first-half minutes. Anthony Davis posted 13 points and eight rebounds, and James chipped in with 12 points and nine assists.

Kevin Durant scored 11 points and surpassed Lisa Leslie as the U.S. Olympic career scoring leader, men’s or women’s, with 488 points. Durant is now just two wins away from his own four-gold run at the Olympics.

The crowd at Paris’ smaller venue for these knockout games included U.S. Olympic legends and other celebrities. Retired star Carmelo Anthony, his son Kiyan, Pau Gasol, A’ja Wilson, and Snoop Dogg were all present, adding to the atmosphere.

The James-led burst before halftime essentially sealed the game. UConn women’s star Paige Bueckers commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Bron just out there throwing dimes,” appreciating James’s flawless play.

James returned to the bench with about three minutes remaining, greeted by the roaring fans of Paris.

The ovation could have been for James walking back without severe injury. Or it might have celebrated French Olympic swimming star Leon Marchand, who appeared on the scoreboard with his own four gold medals.