The USA men's basketball team showcased a dramatic comeback victory, defeating Serbia 95-91 in the semifinals of the 2024 Olympics. This win secures their place in the gold medal game against France. The showdown was a testament to the team's resilience, especially after trailing by a significant margin for most of the game.
At one juncture, the USA was down by as much as 17 points, and they entered the final quarter facing a daunting 13-point deficit. Despite this, the American squad managed to turn the tide against a formidable Serbian team that led for over 35 of the 40 minutes of play.
Serbia's Strong Performance
Serbia’s lineup, featuring Aleksa Avramovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ognjen Dobric, excelled from 3-point range, putting pressure on the USA defense. Nikola Jokic was instrumental for Serbia, playing nearly the entire game and finishing with 17 points and a game-high 11 assists. Their efforts, however, fell short in the face of a relentless fourth-quarter surge by the Americans.
Kerr's Strategic Moves
U.S. coach Steve Kerr made pivotal decisions by leaning heavily on his seasoned veterans during the final quarter. As observed, "Having spent most of the Olympics playing a deep rotation, U.S. coach Steve Kerr relied heavily on his veterans with the game on the line." This strategic shift paid off as the USA outscored Serbia 32-15 in the last quarter, reversing the course of the game.
Stephen Curry was a linchpin in the USA’s offense, particularly in the clutch moments. Curry drained nine 3-pointers, marking the second-most by a U.S. men's basketball player in an Olympic game, and garnered a total of 36 points. Alongside Curry, the final minutes saw crucial contributions from LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker.
James' Triple-Double
LeBron James delivered yet another exceptional performance, notching his second career Olympic triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. His presence was vital throughout the concluding quarter, where he accumulated six points, six rebounds, and four assists. As recounted, “James, meanwhile, was everywhere down the stretch. Playing the entire fourth quarter, he had six points, six rebounds and four assists and finished with his second career Olympics triple-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.”
Fourth-Quarter Dominance
The final quarter was marked by Serbia’s inability to connect from long range, missing all nine of their 3-point attempts. In contrast, Curry’s sharpshooting and the team’s overall defensive solidity turned the game around. Steve Kerr’s management of substitutions was precise; his only notable change in the final period was swapping Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis until the dying moments of the game.
Derrick White struggled during his time on the court, as the USA was outscored by 16 points during his 6:46 minutes of playtime. Conversely, Kevin Durant stood out as the only U.S. player to finish with a positive plus-minus in the semifinals, underscoring his effectiveness on both ends of the court.
Looking Forward
With the win, the USA advances to face France in the gold medal game, poised to reclaim their status atop Olympic basketball. The remarkable comeback against Serbia not only exemplifies the team’s depth and determination but also sets the stage for what promises to be an electrifying finale.