South Sudan Almost Beat the United States in Olympic Tutoring. Here’s How It Happened
Takeaways from the US Olympic Team Wins 101-100 against South Sudan in an exhibition match on Saturday in London:
LeBron James’ layup with eight seconds left was the game-winner, and the victory marked the 40th consecutive time the Americans have won an international game with the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — at 39, on track to become the oldest U.S. Olympic basketball player ever — in uniform.
It seems that being in London is working out well for King James. Playing in the same venue as the 2012 London Olympics — the O2 Arena, which was called the North Greenwich Arena at those Games a dozen years ago — James has put in a fine late-season performance.
In that 2012 gold medal game against Spain, James hit a game-sealing three-pointer with about 2 minutes left to cap a season in which he won the NBA MVP, the NBA Finals MVP, an NBA title with the Miami Heat and Olympic gold.
South Sudan earned its spot at the Olympics through its participation in last year’s World Cup. Its national federation is led by former NBA player Luol Deng, and the team is coached by former NBA point guard and now Houston assistant coach Royal Ivey.
James gave both men a lot of credit after the game Saturday.
“Having that representation, having that type of leadership there, teaching them the right way to play, it’s good. It’s awesome, actually,” James said. “The game is global. There’s not a place where you don’t see it played. I think that’s the beauty of it. Basketball brings so many people together.”
Kevin Durant was on the court to take some warm-up shots, but the Americans were once again without the three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Durant returned to practice Friday after about three weeks of calf pain. He could play in the United States’ final warm-up game Monday against Germany in London. Otherwise, he will head to the Olympics without having played since April 28, when his Phoenix Suns were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
South Sudan made 14 three-pointers, while the United States made seven. The U.S. reserves made 1 of 11 three-pointers.
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