Ten days in the past, South Sudan nearly beat Group USA in a pleasant contest earlier than the Olympic Video games, however the Individuals by some means got here out alive with a 101-100 win. In yesterday’s rematch, the U.S. had a neater time and gained their second-official recreation in Paris by beating the African nation by 17 factors.
With this newest victory, Group USA clinched their journey to the event’s quarterfinals and await one last recreation towards Puerto Rico to outline who will conquer Group C to earn a extra confortable draw within the subsequent stage.
Some of the essential keys of this win got here from the bench, as Bam Adebayo led the squad in factors with 18 to his title this Wednesday. Kevin Durant, who additionally didn’t begin the competition, contributed with one other 14 for his staff, who produced a 25-4 run within the first half.
Group USA beats South Sudan 103-86 in convincing win 🔥
Bam: 16 PTS, 7-9 FG, 7 REB
KD: 14 PTS, 3 AST, 2 REB
LeBron: 12 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST2-0 in group play 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/UxpSg6xIgp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 31, 2024
The U.S. reserves dropped in a complete of 66 factors all through the match. “I simply assume Steve trusts us,” mentioned the Miami huge man. “I really feel like he seems to be on the benches, that spark, to come back off the bench and actually give us a lift, and we did that tonight.”
“We’ve been calling ourselves the bench mob for a very long time now,” shared Adebayo, who additionally offered 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal in yesterday’s 103-86 win. “And it doesn’t matter who’s within the lineup. We all the time appear to determine it out.”
Although they’re now via to the following spherical, Anthony Davis revealed his squad’s true ambition. “It’s not the purpose,” the middle expressed. “It does give us a way of satisfaction so far as having the ability to play subsequent week. However there’s quite a bit that we will get higher at, quite a bit that we will clear up, and we’ll use Saturday’s recreation towards Puerto Rico to tighten the screws once more after which simply see the place it takes us from there.”
Now South Sudan must conflict towards Serbia this weekend, in a matchup that can determine who will stay within the competitors. “We knew this wasn’t going to be a simple job,” mentioned Carlik Jones, the American-Sudanese athlete who has performed for the Bulls. “Our spirits are nonetheless optimistic.”
Joel Embiid was the one participant in the whole roster who didn’t play a single minute towards South Sudan, however will begin towards Puerto Rico
Simply as Jayson Tatum had missed the opener towards Serbia, after which was positioned within the beginning lineup in Wednesday’s recreation towards South Sudan, Joel Embiid appears to have the identical future. As soon as the sport was over, Steve Kerr introduced that each him and Jrue Vacation will begin to wrap up the group stage towards Puerto Rico on Saturday.
“We’ve received 12 guys who’re all able to dominating,” the pinnacle coach defined. “Each night time goes to be a bit completely different. However we like our possibilities with the variety of nice gamers we’ve got on our roster. We now have a humiliation of riches on this roster, that’s the easiest way to place it.”
The Golden State tactician additionally identified that his gamers are so in style that each tiny factor that occurs across the squad is magnified by the press as an enormous drama, when in actuality the roster is wholesome and targeted on bringing dwelling the gold.
“The NBA is so in style worldwide and the common season is form of a cleaning soap opera, and so we perceive that and social media takes over and all the things turns into so dramatic,” Kerr mentioned. “And I feel we have to give these guys extra credit score. They’re right here to win a gold medal. They’re professionals. They’re dedicated to one another.”
