Thrilling Semifinal Clash
In a thrilling semifinal clash at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the U.S. men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought victory over Serbia, winning 95-91 to advance to the gold medal game. The game, held at Paris’ Bercy Arena, was a tense affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
For nearly all of Thursday’s game, Team USA struggled to keep pace with Serbia. Despite a roster filled with future Hall of Famers, only Stephen Curry seemed to find his rhythm, hitting nine three-pointers and leading all scorers with 36 points. The rest of the U.S. team had difficulty finding their groove, resulting in a 13-point deficit as the fourth quarter began.
But Team USA is known for its ability to rally in the most critical moments, and they did just that. The comeback began with a Kevin Durant three-pointer amid a scramble for the ball, followed almost immediately by another long-range shot from Devin Booker. LeBron James then powered through for a determined layup, and center Joel Embiid, despite facing boos from the crowd of 12,213, delivered three consecutive baskets.
The decisive moment came when Curry, who had been unstoppable all game, hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the U.S. the lead with just over two minutes left. Serbia, led by Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, had controlled the game for more than 33 minutes, starting with a Bogdan Bogdanovic three-pointer that put them ahead in the first quarter. However, they couldn’t reclaim the lead in the final moments.
Markable Victory
This victory marked the third time in a month that the U.S. had faced Serbia. While the first two matchups were comfortable wins for Team USA, this semifinal proved to be a much tougher challenge. Now, with the victory secured, the U.S. men’s basketball team will play for Olympic gold, aiming to continue their legacy of basketball dominance on the world stage.
