Paris, August 9, 2024, In a hair-raising match, Team USA men’s basketball booked their place in the final by beating Serbia ( 95-91 )in the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics. As most people guessed, Americans aiming for their fifth straight Olympic gold were tested to the limit by a very formidable Serbian team.
The comeback story
Trailing by double digits for most of the game, the USA seemed all but defeated. Then, in the final 10 seconds, they scored six points to win. The inspiring American victory was led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid, who showed why they are superstars.
Clash of Titans
The game was a rematch between the two countries’ Group C opener that saw the Americans win handily 110-84. But Serbia, winners of three straight coming into Sunday, showed it wasn’t going to be a pushover, and with NBA MVP candidate Nikola Jokic on its side, it played tough.
Road to Gold Now
Team USA will turn its attention to France in the gold medal game. Led by Wembanyama, France will again be one of the tournament’s main attractions. And international basketball fans are already counting down the days until the 2024 Olympics opener.
The Intensity of the Match
The final quarter of the game was the most anticipated moment in the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy as time passed. The fans were almost going crazy, with both nations holding their breaths and their eyes watching every move on the basketball court. What was at stake was a very big one—a ticket to the gold medal game for the winner. Serbia had controlled the first three quarters, feasting on transition, open 3s, and layups off turnovers. Their ball movement was something out of a choreographed dance, led by the maestro playmaking of Jokic. The Serbian fans almost exploded every time another 3-pointer splashed through the net, feeling their team inching closer to an upset. But Team USA wasn’t ready to give up. LeBron James, the battle-tested leader, gathered his team in a time-out huddle. “We’ve been through adversity before,” he told them. “This is where legends are made.
Heroics Kevin Durant
The only thin-legged forward with a seven-foot wingspan and the most accurate jumper decided it was time to stop playing. His team was losing by seven points. So he caught fire. Mid-range after mid-range, each shot like a pinpointed missile on target. Finally, you heard an “ooh” of awe from the mouths of 16,000 fans as he swished a contested three-point shot—down to two.
Embiid’s defensive stand
The defense was anchored by Joel Embiid, the Cameroonian center, whose wingspan seemed to extend to the other end of the court. When Jokic tried a fadeaway jumper, Embiid’s long arm smacked the ball out of bounds. The crowd went wild, and their energy transferred onto the court. Team USA got possession again, and LeBron led a fast break that resulted in a huge dunk by Jayson Tatum.
The Final Seconds
With under ten seconds remaining in the game, the score was tied at 91 each, with Serbia in possession. They inbounded the ball, hoping to get a game-winner, but the American defense was solid. Durant read a pass perfectly, intercepting it to set off on a sprint for the other side of the court when he got a foul. A hush fell over the arena as he headed to the end of the free-throw line. He sank both shots, and the crowd burst into a wild frenzy. The USA was up 93-91, and it was Serbia’s to win or lose. A desperate attempt to force an extra time fell short, seeing the ball bounce out of the rim as the buzzer went off and the Americans knew they had won!
MVP of the Game
The biggest MVP of the night was Kevin Durant. In the end, it was his clutch play when we needed a basket and team defense that won USA this game. His late-game heroics capped a performance that all but cemented his title as the star of the Semi-final clash with Serbia.
For the Next Game
It was the game-time gold medal-time handshakes shift. The final would be between the United States and France, marking an explosive showdown. The French phenom, Victor Wembanyama. The question was whether the Americans could continue to assert their dominance in an Olympic quest or if this would be French time. Basketball lovers globally are usually waiting for the final stage. One thing is certain: this semifinal game was going to be etched in the annals of the Paris Olympics; it was not only a game but a definitive battle for Olympic supremacy, or the French would be spoiling the party.
But for you, as our reader, what do you think about USA Basketball’s next game? Tell us in the comment box.