USA Advances to Olympic Basketball Final
- Team USA overcame Serbia in the Olympic basketball semifinal.
- Steph Curry was outstanding, scoring 36 points and hitting a crucial 3-pointer late in the game.
- The USA will face France for the gold medal on Saturday night.
In a thrilling semifinal match at the Paris Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team overcame a significant deficit to defeat Serbia 95-91, securing a spot in the gold medal game against France. The Americans entered the fourth quarter trailing by 11 points, having faced a 17-point deficit earlier in the game. This comeback marks the largest overcome by a U.S. team since NBA players joined the Olympics in 1992. Steph Curry led the charge for Team USA, scoring 36 points, including a crucial go-ahead three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. The game turned dramatically in the fourth quarter when the U.S. scored six points in a mere two seconds, narrowing Serbia's lead from 78-67 to 78-73. Kevin Durant's three-pointer, followed by Devin Booker's subsequent shot, shifted the momentum in favor of the Americans. Joel Embiid contributed 19 points, while LeBron James added 16, helping the U.S. secure its 20th medal in 20 Olympic appearances. With this victory, the U.S. improved its all-time Olympic record to 144-6 and 63-4 since the inclusion of NBA players. The win also keeps Kevin Durant's aspirations alive to become the first player to win four Olympic gold medals in men's basketball. As the U.S. prepares for the final against France, the semifinal victory stands out as one of the most memorable moments in Olympic basketball history.