LeBron James saved the U.S. from a surprising loss.
James’ layup with 8 seconds left was the go-ahead basket, and the U.S. Olympic crew escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan on Saturday in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to keep away from what would have been an enormous upset.
South Sudan, which gained its independence simply 13 years in the past, had an opportunity to win it.
Carlik Jones had a good look off the glass with about 4 seconds left, however it missed.
“I’m going to be sincere: I like these higher than the blowouts,” James mentioned as he walked off the court docket. “At the least we get examined.”
Showcase match between USA and South Sudan. Getty Photographs
Oh, they acquired examined — by a crew that got here into the sport as 43.5-point underdogs , in accordance with BetMGM Sportsbook.
“ reminder that after we play towards groups, it’s the largest sport of their lives,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “We’ve got to count on everybody to play like that.”
James completed with 23 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists for the U.S., which improved to 4-0 on its pre-Olympic exhibition tour with one sport remaining.
Anthony Davis added 15 factors for the People.
Marial Shayok led all scorers with 25 factors for South Sudan and Jones had a triple-double — 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
The groups will meet in group play within the Paris Olympics on July 31.
JT Thor’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the People known as timeout and put the ball in James’ palms.
He waited, waited, waited, then drove and laid it in with ease to place the U.S. again on prime, and the People acquired the cease they wanted on the finish.
An 18-0 run within the second half — James concerned in most of it — was what actually saved the U.S. from what might have simply been thought of probably the most stunning loss within the nationwide crew’s historical past.
It turned a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead.
South Sudan, 43.5-point underdogs coming into the sport, in accordance with BetMGM Sportsbook, led by 16 late within the first half — 58-42, earlier than the People acquired the final basket to chop the deficit to 14 on the break.
It ought to have been a mismatch, and for the primary half, it was — simply not in the best way anybody would have anticipated.
USA’s one-point victory. Getty Photographs
The U.S. roster has 12 gamers, all of them All-Stars or NBA champions or each, with a complete of 189,038 factors of their regular-season careers, with 7,832 mixed begins.
South Sudan has 4 gamers who’ve appeared in an NBA sport.
They’ve scored a mixed 1,228 factors and began 19 video games.
Didn’t matter. It was 8-0 U.S. after 2 1/2 minutes.
The remainder of the half: South Sudan 58, U.S. 34.
The People allowed South Sudan to shoot 61% within the first half, acquired outscored 21-3 from 3-point vary and turnovers — the clear weak hyperlink of this crew thus far — had been an issue but once more.
However the 18-0 run helped save the day.
James had 4 assists throughout the spurt and Stephen Curry, from about 35 ft, related on a 3-pointer late within the third that gave the U.S. its first lead for the reason that first quarter at 79-76.
The groups will meet in group play within the Paris Olympics on July 31.
“It’s basketball. It occurs,” Curry mentioned. “You wish to play good each sport; it doesn’t occur. However are you able to dig deep and do the little issues that enable you to win? Offense can come and go, however protection is the factor that helps you win championships, medals, all that stuff.”
Wenyan Gabriel banked in a 3-pointer to get South Sudan inside 85-84, however James — his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers — related on a 3 on the following U.S. possession, and the People would finally cling on.
— with AP
