Amanda Knapp
In a thrilling Olympic men's basketball semifinal, Team USA narrowly escaped defeat against Serbia, winning 95-91. Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, gave the Americans a run for their money, dominating the game for three quarters and leading by 13 points with 10 minutes to go. However, the USA pulled off a furious comeback, with LeBron James and Steph Curry stepping up to secure the win. This match showcased the closing gap between the USA and the rest of the world in basketball, with Serbia pushing one of the greatest teams ever assembled to their limits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | August 8, 2024 |
| Competition | Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals |
| Teams | Team USA, Serbia (SRB) |
| Final Score | 95-91 to USA |
| Key Players (USA) | LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Jrue Holiday, Kevin Durant |
| Key Players (Serbia) | Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Aleksa Avramovic, Filip Petrusev, Ognjen Dobric |
| USA Coach | Steve Kerr |
| Serbia's Success Revolving Around | Nikola Jokic, Bogdan Bogdanovic |
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What You'll Learn
- The USA beat Serbia 95-91 in the 2024 Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals
- Serbia almost beat the USA, with the final quarter being crucial
- Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic were key players for Serbia
- Steph Curry and LeBron James were top scorers for the USA
- USA won gold for the fifth consecutive Olympic Games
The USA beat Serbia 95-91 in the 2024 Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals
The USA men's basketball team beat Serbia in a close game, 95-91, in the 2024 Olympic Semifinals. The USA pulled off the biggest comeback in Olympic basketball history, with Serbia leading by 13 points going into the final 10 minutes. The USA's NBA all-time leading scorer and leading Olympic scorer, alongside the greatest shooter of all time, proved too much for Serbia, despite a valiant effort from the Serbian team.
Serbia's game plan was executed almost flawlessly, with the team making 15 three-pointers. Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 17 points and 11 assists, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points. The Serbian team's performance was exemplary, with the USA coach, Steve Kerr, stating:
> They played the perfect game, and they forced us to reach the highest level of competition that we could find, and our guys were incredible in that fourth quarter and they got it done. I'm so proud of the team.
The USA's victory was not without its challenges. LeBron James and Steph Curry had to step up, with Curry scoring 17 of his 20 points in the first quarter, and James ending the half with nine points, five assists, and three rebounds. Curry and James's performance, alongside the rest of the USA team's efforts, secured the USA's place in the gold-medal game for the fifth consecutive Olympics.
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Serbia almost beat the USA, with the final quarter being crucial
Serbia put up a strong fight against Team USA in the 2024 Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals. The game, which took place on August 8, 2024, in Paris, France, ended with a score of 95-91 in favor of the United States. However, Serbia's performance almost led them to victory, with the final quarter being crucial in determining the outcome.
Serbia, led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, dominated the game for much of the first three quarters. With a strong game plan and impressive shooting, Serbia built a significant lead. By halftime, the U.S. was trailing 42-25, facing their largest deficit of the Olympics. Serbia's lead continued to grow, reaching 76-63 after the third quarter.
However, the final quarter proved to be a turning point. Down by 13 points with 10 minutes remaining, Team USA mounted a furious comeback. The experience and skill of their star players, including LeBron James and Steph Curry, came to the fore. Curry, who had already scored 17 points in the first quarter, added three more to his tally in the final quarter, while James contributed crucial plays.
The Serbian team, despite their valiant effort, could not hold off the U.S. rally. The Americans' ability to raise their level in the final quarter showcased their resilience and determination. The game was a testament to the closing gap between the traditional basketball powerhouses and the rising competitive threat from international teams. While Serbia fell just short of winning, their performance served as a reminder that the world is catching up to the United States in this sport.
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Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic were key players for Serbia
Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic were indeed key players for Serbia in their basketball match against the USA. In the build-up to the game, it was noted that Serbia had two of the best players in the backcourt, Vasilije Micic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic was averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.0 threes, shooting 48.0% from deep. He was described as the kind of player who could "completely swing a game with a hot stretch".
Jokic, meanwhile, was seen as the best individual player in the world, and his rivalry with USA's Joel Embiid was billed as one of the defining rivalries of the era. Jokic's impact was also highlighted, with his plus-minus being described as potentially "the stat of the tournament".
In the game itself, Serbia took the USA to overtime, losing by just four points, 95-91. LeBron James needed a triple-double, and Steph Curry had to score 36 points to beat the Serbians. Jokic and Bogdanovic were both key to Serbia's performance, with Bogdanovic hitting a crucial shot to break a US run in the fourth quarter.
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Steph Curry and LeBron James were top scorers for the USA
Team USA defeated Serbia 95-91 in the 2024 Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals. While Serbia put up a good fight, the American team ultimately emerged victorious.
LeBron Raymone James, nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record in 2023. In addition to his scoring prowess, James has won four NBA championships and three Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. national team. He is a record 21-time NBA All-Star and has earned numerous accolades, including four NBA MVP awards and four Finals MVP awards. James rejoined the national team as Team Captain for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he contributed to Team USA's victory over Serbia.
Wardell Stephen Curry, also known as "Chef Curry," is another American professional basketball player and point guard for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Curry is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has revolutionized the sport by inspiring the prominent use of the three-point shot. He is a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and an NBA Finals MVP. Curry represented the U.S. national team in the 2024 Olympics, where he played a crucial role in their semifinal win against Serbia, scoring 36 points. In the final game against France, he tallied 24 points and secured the United States' fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Both LeBron James and Steph Curry are exceptional basketball players who have achieved immense success in the NBA and international competitions. Their contributions to Team USA were instrumental in their victory over Serbia in the 2024 Olympic Men's Basketball Semifinals.
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USA won gold for the fifth consecutive Olympic Games
The USA men's basketball team has dominated the sport in the Olympics, winning medals in all twenty Olympic tournaments they have entered, including seventeen golds. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, the US men's basketball team won gold for the fifth consecutive Olympic Games. In the final, the US team faced France for the second straight Olympics and defeated them 98-87. Steph Curry led the team with 24 points, including eight three-pointers, and Kevin Durant became the first male athlete to win four golds in a team sport.
The road to the final was not easy, with the US team facing a strong Serbian team in the semifinals. Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic, gave the US team a tough challenge, with the game going down to the wire. LeBron James and Steph Curry had to step up, with Curry scoring 36 points, to secure a 95-91 victory and advance to the final.
The US team also faced other challenges in the tournament, including a close game against Australia, who nearly overcame a 25-point deficit. Despite these challenges, the US team demonstrated their superiority and remained undefeated in the tournament, extending their Olympic winning streak.
With their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal, the US men's basketball team reaffirmed their dominance in the sport and added another chapter to their storied history. The team's success is a testament to the hard work and talent of its players, as well as the effective coaching and strategies implemented. This victory will undoubtedly inspire future generations of basketball players and fans around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The final score was 95-91 to the USA.
Yes, Serbia played an excellent game, almost beating the USA. They led by 13 points going into the final 10 minutes.
Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic were the standout players for Serbia, with 17 points and 11 assists, and 20 points respectively.
LeBron James and Steph Curry were the stars for the USA, with 9 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, and 20 points respectively.
Steve Kerr said, "They played the perfect game, and they forced us to reach the highest level of competition that we could find, and our guys were incredible in that fourth quarter and they got it done. I'm so proud of the team."
