The US men’s 5v5 basketball team went undefeated through the first three Paris Olympics games, beating Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico. America took on Brazil in the quarterfinals and was heavy favorites heading into the game. The United States got out to an early lead and built on it as they moved onto the semis with a 122-87 win on Tuesday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Brazil got out to an early 4-2 lead courtesy of layups from Gui Santos and Bruno Caboclo within the first minute of action. The US immediately flipped the script as Joel Embiid knocked down the team’s first three-pointer and Steph Curry made the transition layup.
America went on a 16-2 run before the Brazilians could score their eighth point as LeBron James and Curry made back-to-back layups and Jrue Holiday got a dunk on the Lebron assist. Devin Booker then made a three and Embiid hit a midrange jumper to cap off the run.
The Brazilians knocked down a couple more shots but the US recorded a couple more made shots from downtown as head coach Steve Kerr and company were up by 12 after one-quarter of play.
It was even more lopsided in the following period.
Brazil didn’t score their first basket of the quarter until the 5:58 mark when Lucas Diaz slammed it home off the Didi Louzada pass. That dunk started a 13-2 run as America’s lead was only single digits with 4:11 before halftime.
After that, four different US players featuring Curry, James, Holiday, and Embiid knocked down a mix of jumpers and free throws, helping them go on a 19-2 run. James capped off the half with a highlight inbound pass to Jayson Tatum for the lob dunk with a handful of seconds to go. Both teams headed into the locker rooms as America was up 63-36.
It was a more competitive third quarter. Each squad matched one another, shot for shot. Holiday would make a three then Santos rebuttaled with one of his own. Booker scored from deep and Caboclo hit a midrange shot the following possession. Despite Brazil outscoring the States in the period, America was still up by 23 points going into the fourth quarter.
Anthony Edwards opened the final period with a slam off the Kevin Durant assists and that sparked another big run for America. That run lasted until the 4:28 mark of the quarter as the US scored 112 before the Brazilians scored 80 points.
Bam Adebayo and Edwards made a few threes late after their team had the game well in hand and the United States moved on to the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics with a 122-87 win over Brazil.
BIG NUMBER: 494
Kevin Durant has become the all-time scoring leader for a United States player in the Olympics with 494 points. Durant overtook Lisa Leslie for the scoring title at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter. Leslie’s record was 488 points as her four Olympic experiences were from 1996 in Atlanta to 2008 in Beijing. KD began his run in the 2012 London games and has represented the United States since then.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: LeBron James
James was the main facilitator and directed the offense for the United States on Tuesday as he finished the game with 12 points and nine assists. The 39-year-old also recorded three steals and rebounds to help elevate his team past Brazil in a 122-87 beatdown to advance to the next round.
UP NEXT: The US men’s basketball team will take on Serbia in a semifinal matchup. Tip-off in France is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. central time on Thursday, August 8th. Tip-off in France is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. central time on Thursday, August 8th.