Olympic basketball: U.S. overcomes narrowly escape Serbia scare

On Thursday, the U.S. men's basketball team survived a scare in the semifinals against Serbia thanks to an astonishing comeback.

With a comeback victory of 95–91 after falling by 17 points in the first half, the United States will face France in Saturday's Olympic gold medal game.

Thanks to his incredible 36 points, Stephen Curry salvaged the situation. In addition to his 16 points, LeBron James had a fantastic game overall. Devin Booker, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant came through in the fourth quarter.

The Americans put up a crushing last push. As time ran down, they took the lead (87-86) on Curry's 3-pointer. In response, they stepped up their defense, leading to James's layup and Curry's strong drive for the basket.

It was a welcome relief for the United States, which had trailed continuously since the 5:46 mark in the first quarter.

However, Serbia continued to fight back and cut the lead to two points. With eight seconds remaining, Durant drained a 17-footer over his defender, and Curry added the game-winning free throw with two seconds remaining.

The U.S. men's basketball team has become a global phenomenon. Although many would have seen a Serbian victory as a shock, given that the United States had won 16 of its 19 Olympic appearances, including the last four, the game was not close due to chance, incompetence, or bad luck.

When compared to the United States, Serbia is on par. The Americans may have a more skilled and deep team but still need their top player. Jokić and Aaron Bogdanovic (20 points) and Aleksa Avramovic (15 points) pounded the United States throughout the opening three quarters.

The Denver Nuggets great, Jokić, was outstanding in every possible aspect. It was his goal. He got back up. It was his defense. His selections were set. He steadied a side that seemed to gain confidence with every subsequent possession. His final stats were 17 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds.

The veteran leaders of USA Basketball, including James (39), Curry (36), and Durant (35), were ultimately too much for him to overcome.

The current state of affairs at the Olympics is the culmination of basketball's transformation into a worldwide sport. We need to know whether the U.S. men's basketball team can pull off a miraculous upset in this contested event.

The fierce and physically demanding French squad and their ardent home fans are ready to go for the gold.

Elevate your betting experience with Sky247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.