South Sudan’s #11 Marial Shayok (L) defends towards USA’s #06 LeBron James within the males’s preliminary spherical group C basketball match between USA and South Sudan through the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games on the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on July 31, 2024. (AFP)
LILLE, France – Bam Adebayo led the USA with 18 factors in a 103-86 win over South Sudan on Wednesday because the reigning champions sailed into the quarter-finals of the Olympic males’s basketball event.
Group USA have by no means misplaced to an African aspect on the Olympics however they’d a scare after they performed South Sudan in a warm-up recreation in London on July 20.
Nevertheless there was by no means any risk of an upset in Lille as LeBron James received the US, looking for a fifth successive gold medal, off to a quick begin within the first quarter and by no means regarded again.
Jayson Tatum started the sport for the US after coach Steve Kerr saved the Boston Celtics star on the bench for the whole thing of Sunday’s opening win over Serbia.
As an alternative, it was the flip of Joel Embiid to take a seat out the night as Adebayo had the new hand, the Miami Warmth middle making his first six pictures and eight of 10 in complete.
Kevin Durant chipped in with 14 factors, producing one other strong taking pictures show after his return from harm towards Serbia, whereas James completed with 12 factors.
“You’ve received guys from all ages within the league that (have) achieved a lot, however they’re all unselfish gamers who need one of the best for the staff,” mentioned Durant.
“I believe we’ve received to proceed to show ourselves as a result of different groups I’ve been on we gained the gold, however so far as expertise and what we appear like on paper, it’s most likely one of the best staff I’ve performed on.”
Anthony Edwards, Derrick White and Devin Booker all reached double digits as effectively, but it surely was a tricky night time for Stephen Curry who completed with simply three factors.
The US led 55-36 at half-time and whereas South Sudan fought bravely to remain within the contest, the Olympic newcomers might by no means get again to inside fewer than 10 factors.
“I believe a staff like this we have to put our foot on the gasoline for 40 minutes straight,” added Durant, a three-time gold medallist.
Nuni Omot scored a game-high 24 factors for South Sudan, with Carlik Jones including 18 for a staff coached by former NBA participant Royal Ivey.
With two wins from two in Group C, the US at the moment are assured to advance to the final eight. Canada, Germany and hosts France had already secured their passage to the quarter-finals.
South Sudan, who started their Olympic debut with a win over Puerto Rico, stay effectively positioned to make the knockout section.
Earlier on Wednesday, Serbia bounced again from their opening loss to the US with an emphatic 107-66 win over Puerto Rico.
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Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic got here up simply in need of a triple-double as he registered 14 factors, 15 rebounds and 9 assists.
Observe Inquirer Sports activities’ particular protection of the Paris Olympics 2024.