Team USA came from behind with under three minutes remaining to reach the final of the Summer Olympics 2024 basketball tournament with a 95-91 win over Serbia at the Bercy Arena.
The favourites for the title had been on course to go out for almost the entirety of the semi-final, with Kevin Durant failing to score in either of the first two quarters as Serbia established a 54-43 lead at the break.
Joel Embiid drew the USA level at 84-84 with under four minutes remaining before a 3-pointer from Steph Curry gave them an 87-86 lead.
Steve Kerr’s side will face France in Saturday’s final at the Accor Arena, where Serbia take on Germany for bronze earlier in the day.
No Joke. 🇺🇸 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/5VV8sCCgFV
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 8, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
USA vs Serbia: Team USA through
Serbia will feel aggrieved at not completing a huge upset after establishing a 17-point lead at one stage and being 13 ahead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Considerable underdogs for gold, they had lost 110-84 against the USA during the group stage and needed overtime to beat Australia in the quarter-finals.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic was typically inspirational as a shock result edged nearer, amassing 17 points, 11 assists and five rebounds by the end.
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 and Aleksa Avramovic 15 points, while LeBron James contributed a triple-double to help the USA dodge an almighty shock.
“This will forever go down as the Steph Curry game.” 🇺🇸
The chef was COOKING in Team USA’s comeback. 👨🍳 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/cRcdiJXM0L
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024
Steph Curry heroics for USA
Curry was the USA’s chief saviour, finishing on 36 points – including nine 3-pointers – and putting them ahead with little more than a minute remaining.
NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, of San Antonio Spurs, now awaits them as part of a France team noted for their physicality in the decider.
The hosts recovered from losing the first quarter to beat Germany 73-69, Guerschon Yabusele leading the scoring with 17 points.
“We’re willing to spill blood on the court,” 20-year-old Wembanyama said afterwards. “It’s no big deal. If it allows us to win gold, I’m offering. Take all of it.”
