The US eked out a late 101-100 win thanks to a late LeBron James layup, staving off one of the biggest upsets in basketball history
www.theguardian.com
LeBron James saved the US from what would have been a stunning loss.
James’s layup with eight seconds left was the go-ahead basket on Saturday, and the US Olympic team that’ll soon head to the Paris Games escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to avoid perhaps the biggest upset in the program’s history.
“[It was] a good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to expect everyone to play like that.”
South Sudan, the African nation that gained its independence just 13 years ago and is about to play in the Olympics for the first time, led for more than half the game and had a chance to win at the end. But Carlik Jones’ runner off the glass missed with four seconds left, and the US eked out a victory.
“I’m going to be honest: I like those better than the blowouts,” James said as he walked off the court. “At least we get tested.”
Down by 16 at one point, the Americans dug out of that hole with an 18-0 run in the second half – then needed heroics at the end to stave off South Sudan’s reply. JT Thor’s three-pointer with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the US called timeout and handed the ball to James.
He made it look easy: He waited then drove and laid it in with ease to put the US back on top. James finished with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the US, who improved to 4-0 with one game left – Monday against World Cup champions Germany – on their pre-Olympic exhibition tour. Anthony Davis added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Marial Shayok had 24 points for South Sudan and Jones had a triple-double – 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
The teams will meet in group play in the Paris Olympics on 31 July.
“It’s basketball. It happens,” Stephen Curry said post-game. “You want to play perfect every game; it doesn’t happen. But can you dig deep and do the little things that help you win? Offense can come and go, but defense is the thing that helps you win championships, medals, all that stuff.”
It should have been a mismatch, and for the first half, it was – just not in the way anyone would have expected. The US roster has 12 players, all of them All-Stars or NBA champions or both, with a total of 189,038 points in their regular-season careers, with 7,832 combined starts. South Sudan have four players who have appeared in an NBA game. They’ve scored a combined 1,228 points and started 19 games.
It didn’t matter. It was 8-0 to the US after three minutes. South Sudan then outscored the US by 24 points in the remainder of the half. The US allowed South Sudan to shoot 61% in the first half and were outscored 21-3 from deep in the opening 20 minutes.
US coach Steve Kerr said the team were “embarrassed” at half-time. “What we’ve learned with USA basketball is that the game has closed,” Kerr said post-game. “The game has gotten better across the globe.”
Kerr pointed to the team’s poor preparation for the slow first half. “I did not do a great job preparing our team,” Kerr said. “We did not focus enough on what they’re capable of, and that’s on me. I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early. They were great. They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us, just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille.”
An 18-0 run in the second half – James involved in most of it – was what really saved the US, turning a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead. South Sudan led by 16 late in the first half – 58-42 – before the Americans got the last basket to cut the deficit to 14 at the break.
But the 18-0 run was key. James had four assists during the spurt and Curry, from about 35ft, connected on a 3-pointer late in the third that gave the US their first lead since the first quarter at 79-76.
Wenyen Gabriel banked in a three-pointer to get South Sudan within 85-84, but James – his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers – connected from behind the arc on the ensuing US possession, and the US eventually pulled through by the slimmest of margins.
“Today we were able to represent our country with pride and we put up a good fight and showed the potential of our country,” Gabriel said. “I think it was a proud moment for a lot of people.”
Davis said the team got to the arena late, thrown off by standstill London traffic, and that routines going into the game were disrupted. But South Sudan showed the US that nobody at the Olympics will concede anything to the four-time defending gold medalists.
“The match was super important because we feel like we can’t be beaten and they showed us we can be beat,” Anthony Edwards said after the game. “We have to come ready to play.”
This is probably the least attention I have ever paid to an Olympics and the whole dykes in spikes stuff leaves me completely disinterested. I know, I'm going straight to hell. Anyway for what it's worth: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi and woopdy-doo.
Yeah I used to love Roy Jones. He had Tommy Hearns kind of talent. Unfortunately there wasn't too much competition for him at his peak.
I grew up with Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Larry Holmes in his prime. I was still (and still am) watching replays of Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton. It was a great couple of decades. I also thought Riddick Bowe was potentially one of the greats but enjoyed the spoils over reaching his potential. Young Mike wasn't too shabby either.
The caper is (and has been) so corrupt that I find it hard to take the new guys too seriously. I see lots of low IQ and bad habits. In saying that, the Olympics can be great and the Boxing had its own YouTube Channel last time. I really enjoyed the Female Gold Medalist from Japan last time, Irie Sena. I've always loved watching the Cubans. Great country, Cuba. All their kids learn Boxing and Chess from Grade 1. There's so many athletes walking the streets that crime is too big a risk.
Add me to the boxing clique too. All started for me doing work experience at Channel 9 in 1970 and getting to see Ali v Bonavena live in the studios, instead of the delayed highlights and replays we got back then. Lol@corruption ... it was so blatant, and for the unknown fighters, like ours, they were just door mats.
Tried amateurs but didn't have much of a left nor a great taste for getting hit. Most fun ever was doing pre-season extras with Anthony Mundine's old man Tony, running with his training camp through the National Park trails from O'Reilly's in 1974. I'd run into him literally the year before running the tracks of Brampton Island. An amazing family. Tony's brother Micky could play footy a bit too. Then in one of life's intersections, when Anthony joined the 'Ponies during SL, he moved in next door to me at Mt. Ommaney. Some interesting stories for another time from that period.
Sorry MT, I know I'm a dinosaur but I like women too much to really enjoy watching them bashing each other. Doesn't stop me tuning-in though.
My old man won't watch NRLW for the same reason. He's a Dinosaur!
He was a QLD schoolboys champion boxer and wanted me to be handy from 4 years old. I used to do it for fun and fitness until it got serious and you're always wondering what the other guy is doing / not doing in the lead up.
They're wonderful skills to have though. Builds confidence for all and any situation.
How embarrassing was the 7’s capitulation? Boys against men doesn’t adequately describe how far behind Fiji we were and they in turn got obliterated in the final.
Congratulating our medal winners doesn’t seem in the spirit of the Olympics, so, in advance, congratulations to all who compete in it.
You two aren't old just wiser ,There's a great doco series on Kayo called the four kings about the first 4 you mentioned MT and all the fights/build ups and aftermath, So good watching it all together because I wasn't around yet. Hearns has always been my favourite to watch since I got into it, funnest fighter ever, But Pacman is my absolute favourite.
There's some good Aussie boxers doing some great things like Tszyu, Paro and Opataia (Roy JJ like) who's my favourite are all really fun to watch. I went to Opetaia vs Breidis 1 not really knowing either besides Breidis fought Usyk in a split at their best, Top 5 moment of my life being at that and watching Opetaias jaw hanging off the groun but being a dog, Recently Paro went into the Puerto Rican guys yard who'd legit killed a guy and koed everyone lately named the Boogeyman of the division and beat him on judging, IN PUERTO RICO.
Boxing has came back massively with the Saudis getting involved, It's sportswashing to the max but boxing always has been and it's how you get the best fights hahaha. Fury vs Usyk was an incredible heavyweight fight along with the 2 AJ ones that are as good as any.
Yeah thanks for the recommendation Cow. I enjoyed four Kings. There's a few other docos out there about the four of them that are good. The funniest for me though (as much as I love Tommy) was Leonard in the 'No Mas' fight. He was so on that night, he could have been standing on a handkerchief and not been hit. His showboating was audacious. Nobody else could have done that to Duran. Mind you, the right hand Tommy hits Duran with would kill an elephant. Wow! I loved Tommy's jab and how he threw it from so many different angles. He could turn it into a hook or an uppercut the way he held his left hand. Roy JJ did that too. James Toney was pretty handy and for Roy to take the belts off him, says plenty. Have a look at Toney with some other guys. Tough hombre.
I can't take Fury seriously. He's got good skills but he's not what he should be and if he fought someone like a Bowe or Holyfield, they'd hand his arseto him.
IMO the sport has to get more accessible. The short term pay per view is hurting it. For me personally, I can't stand the blood lust from morons at the pub and can't afford to pay for myself at home, so I just catch the odd big one on YouTube after someone does the upload. I'd love to watch more but time is limited. In saying that, give me a heads up when a good card is on and I'll try and watch it on YouTube.
The Boomers take on Canada after Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Kyle Chalmers make it through to the women's and men's 100m freestyle semifinals on day four. Later, Jess Fox returns to the canoe slalom rapids. Follow live.
www.abc.net.au
Here are the events where Australians will contend for medals on day four (all times AEST):
11:30pm: Trap shooting men's final — James Willett
3am or 3:45am: Women's rugby sevens bronze or gold medal match (Australia faces Canada in their semifinal at midnight)
4:56am: Women's 100m backstroke final — Kaylee McKeown and Iona Anderson
5:02am: Men's 800m freestyle final — Elijah Winnington
Wow Logan Martin just did an amazing first tilt at BMX freestyle. Insane sport.
I like to watch action films and you go "fake, fake fake". I like old school stunts. But wow look at this, it's real. Must be lots of pain to get this good and this instinctive.
USA beat Australia in the last microsecond in 7s for the Bronze. Long rang try to level it 12-12. Win it with a kick. Cruel way to lose after Australia scored to lead a minute before.