USA’s #04 Stephen Curry celebrates after scoring within the males’s semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia through the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games on the Bercy Enviornment in Paris on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
PARIS, France – America needed to dig deep to erase a 17-point deficit to beat Nikola Jokic’s Serbia 95-91 on Thursday to maintain their bid for a fifth straight Olympic males’s basketball gold medal alive.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry dazzled with 36 factors and all-time NBA scoring chief LeBron James had a triple-double of 16 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Individuals, who will meet hosts France in a repeat of the Tokyo Olympics last Saturday.
France booked a return journey to the title recreation with a 73-69 victory over reigning World Cup champions Germany.
The US staff led by James is reckoned to be probably the most expertise laden because the 1992 Dream Crew led by Michael Jordan.
But it surely took a large fourth-quarter effort to lastly subdue the Serbians, who led a lot of the night time and took a 76-63 benefit into the ultimate interval.
“Huge-time win for us,” James mentioned. “We knew we have been going to be challenged, we knew it was going to be the hardest recreation updated, however it was a real complete effort.”
Curry rattled in a three-pointer with 2:24 remaining to provide the USA their first lead because the first quarter at 87-86.
“Pulling down an enormous shot like that, you reside for these moments,” mentioned Curry, who had struggled to seek out his capturing contact in his first Olympics.
“(I) haven’t shot the ball properly the entire event,” he mentioned. “But it surely doesn’t waver your confidence to satisfy the second.”
James adopted with a driving layup, Curry grabbed a steal and drove for a basket that pushed the US result in 5 and the Individuals held on.
Three-time NBA Most Priceless Participant Jokic completed with 17 factors and 11 assists for Serbia, who had 20 factors from a superb Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Curry drilled 5 three-pointers on the way in which to 17 first-quarter factors. However Serbia mixed for 5 three-pointers themselves and led 31-23 after the primary and continued to pour it on.
They pushed their result in 42-25 within the second interval and instantly the USA, whose romp via the group stage included a 110-84 victory over Serbia, regarded in deep trouble for the primary time at these Video games.
Again-to-back three-pointers from Curry and Jrue Vacation minimize the deficit to 59-65 late within the third, however the US couldn’t reel Serbia in till the bitter finish.
France hangs on
France shook off a gradual begin then held on late to edge Germany in entrance of an ecstatic house crowd, avenging their loss within the group stage to provide themselves an opportunity at Olympic glory on house soil.
Guerschon Yabusele led France’s scoring with 17 factors and Isaia Cordinier added 16.
NBA rookie of the 12 months Victor Wembanyama scored a modest 11 factors with seven rebounds however delivered three essential blocked photographs for France, whose 10-point fourth-quarter lead dwindled to 2 when Germany’s Franz Wagner drilled a three-pointer with 37 seconds to play.
Cordinier lastly allowed French followers to have fun with a pair of free throws to cap the scoring.
“Unbelievable, unimaginable second,” Wembanyama mentioned. “The followers made it arduous for me to not cry.”
Wembanyama mentioned the French gamers have been pushed by their group stage loss to Germany.
“We have been simply remembering how they have been laughing final recreation, how straightforward it regarded for them,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I’m positive dropping that recreation within the group part helped us win immediately, undoubtedly.”
Dennis Schroder scored 18 factors for Germany, however Wagner was the one different participant in double figures.
Curry mentioned France can be a tricky proposition of their house Olympics.
“I do know they’re going to feed off their house vitality,” Curry mentioned.
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