In a thrilling victory over Serbia, USA’s Stephen Curry dazzled with 36 points, while LeBron James, the all-time NBA scoring leader, recorded a triple-double of 16 points.
In order to defeat Nikola Jokic’s Serbia 95-91 on Thursday and maintain their hopes of winning the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Olympics for a fifth consecutive year, the United States had to rally from a 17-point deficit.
France defeated Germany, the defending World Cup champions, 73-69, to secure a trip back to the championship game.
Since Michael Jordan’s Dream Team in 1992, the US team under James is thought to have the most talent.
But the Serbians, who had been ahead most of the game and entered the fourth quarter with a 76-63 lead, required a tremendous fourth-quarter effort to finally be defeated.
“We won big time,” James exclaimed. “We knew we were going to be challenged, we knew it was going to be the toughest game up to date, but it was a true total effort.”
With 2:24 left, Curry drained a three-pointer to give the US its first lead since the opening quarter, 87-86.
“You live for those moments when you knock down a big shot like that,” remarked Curry, who had trouble finding his shooting stroke during his first Olympics.
“(I) haven’t shot the ball well the whole tournament,” he stated. “But it doesn’t waver your confidence to meet the moment.”
After James made a driving layup, Curry stole the ball and drove for a basket to increase the US lead to five points, which they maintained.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic led Serbia, which had 20 points from an outstanding Bogdan Bogdanovic, to victory with 17 points and 11 assists.
Curry scored 17 points in the first quarter after hitting five three-pointers. However, Serbia scored five three-pointers in a row, took a 31-23 lead after the first quarter, and kept up the pressure.
They extended their lead to 42-25 in the second quarter, and for the first time during these Games, the United States, who had dominated the group stage and defeated Serbia 110-84, appeared to be in serious trouble.
Late in the third quarter, Curry and Jrue Holiday each made back-to-back three-pointers to narrow the deficit to 59-65, but the US was unable to close the gap with Serbia until the very end.
France hang on
In front of a wild home crowd, France overcame a slow start and held on late to defeat Germany and earn a shot at Olympic glory on home soil. They had previously lost to Germany in the group stage.
With 17 points, Guerschon Yabusele led France’s scoring, while Isaia Cordinier chipped in with 16.
The NBA rookie of the year Victor Wembanyama finished with a meager 11 points and seven rebounds, but he blocked three crucial shots for France, which lost a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to two points when Franz Wagner of Germany made a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining.
After tying the score with a pair of free throws, Cordinier at last permitted the French supporters to celebrate.
“This is such an amazing moment,” Wembanyama exclaimed. “The fans made it hard for me not to cry.”
Wembanyama claimed that the French players were motivated by their defeat to Germany in the group stage.
“We were just remembering how they were laughing last game, how easy it looked for them,” Wembanyama stated. “I’m sure losing that game in the group phase helped us win today, definitely.”
Wagner was the only other player in double figures for Germany, with Dennis Schroder scoring eighteen points.
Curry predicted that France would be difficult to beat in their home Olympics.
“I know they’re going to feed off their home energy,” Curry stated.
