Serbia - USA basketball live updates online: score and stats | 2024 Olympics in Paris
Curry is hounded and it ends up with the ball out of bounds. The Americans are moving the ball extremely well and it ends with a difficult fade-away and the foul. He will go to the line.
It's back to back stuff now but Avramovic is blocked by Embiid on route to the basket. It's Team USA's ball.
It's Avramovic who has gone to the line and he's made both. It's a ten-point game at 53-63 but Serbia miss the three-point attempt after stealing the ball back and making a break.
There also appears to have been a foul before Embiid's that was committed by LeBron James. There's likely some form of punishment forthcoming based on the replays that we're seeing. James is being called for 'active violence.
A miss from James is followed by a quick break but we've got a heavy foul committed by Embiid on Avramovic. There will be a review.
Following a Jokic miss from distance it's Jrue Holiday who gets himself one from beyond the arc. Apparently Serbia hasn't learned the lesson of the first half.
LeBron James gets us going with a quick 2 and it's 49-60 in the Americans' favor.
And away we go once again!
To punctuate the point
Another look at the numbers that Kevin Durant has put up in the first half. As the previous post stated, 'ridiculous'.
Serbia are still in this
If there are any takeaways from the first half it's that this game has largely been decided by individual performances, primarily that of Kevin Durant. Indeed, we're it not for the Suns' stars incredible contribution, this game would likely have a very different look to it.
That said, Serbia will have to do a much better job of defending the perimeter. Whether it's been Durant's sharp shooting, or the penetrating passes that Team USA has been dishing from beyond the arc, the end result has been the same.
If Jokic and Co. can address that in the second half, they'll probably have a shot at winning this game. Of course, it would be fair to say that's a big "if".
Kevin Durant is a problem...
If it wasn't already abundantly clear, the former MVP (2019) is as good as it gets, something Serbia will want to keep in mind in the 2nd half if they are to get anything out of this contest.
We're back at it and it will be the Americans who close out the final 3 seconds with another Kevin Durant fadeaway jumper at the buzzer no less! Halftime here in Paris folks but stay with us!
Team USA will bring it up the court for the final seconds but Anthony Edwards - the man with the rock - is fouled by Bogdanovic. We've got a review.
Kevin Durant didn't like that apparently and that's another three from the big man. He's not letting up tonight.
It's back and forth now as Bogdanovic gets two baskets in a row.
A Jrue Holiday steal and in for a solo layup.
We're approaching the end of the quarter and that's Kevin Durant doing what he does once again. An easy two in the end.
A Jokic steal followed by some slick movement and a great layup from Micic to make it a two point game. 44-46.
Unfortunately for Curry, he's the culprit on the other end as he fouls Dobric in the process of sinking a three of his own. It's 40-46.
That's Curry with a big one from distance to make it a ten-point game.
Again some top tier defense as the Serbs stop Team USA, but they're unable to score and so to is Serbia on the counter. We're at 36-43.
Serbia is defending tooth and nail but apparently not enough to stop LeBron from draining a three. That's a problem.
That's a big three from Jokic and in the face of Joel Embiid no less. We're at 36-40 now with the Serbians making a run.
Jokic is fouled but makes the shot. The big man goes to the line and drains them both. We're at 33-40 in the Americans' favor.
After some quick passing around the perimeter, LeBron is put in for an easy jam and it's a 10-point game. 40-30
Jokic gets a heavy foul from Embiid and goes to the line but is only able to score one.
Joel Embiid having just checked in gets a dish from Curry and is able to sink his first 2 of the night.
A beautiful pass from LeBron James to Anthony Edwards in the paint. The latter is fouled for his trouble and goes to the line where he makes both. It's 36-27!
Kevin Durant just can't stop scoring from beyond the arc. That's his 4th for the night.
Serbia get us off and running again and it's Micic with a difficult shot from mid range. The Serbs follow that up with a quick steal but fail to capitalize and give it up once again.
LeBRon James with another smooth move through the paint for a slick lay up. That's 32-23 for the Americans.
At some point the Serbians are going to have to mark Kevin Durant tighter as he seems to have no problems lighting them up from beyond the arc. That's 30-23 after another smooth one from the Suns' star.
Micic answers with a three and it's now 27-23!
Off we go again and Serbia immediately attempt a three-pointer through Jovic but he doesn't get it to go, only to see Kevin Durant sink a fade away at the other end. 27-20.
That's a wrap for the first quarter and the Americans lead 25-20 in what's been a relatively even game so far, with Serbia more or less giving as good as they've gotten. That said, they will want to tighten up on the perimeter as Team USA has made them pay so far.
James is back in the fold and Serbia will have it but it's stolen by James only to have it stolen back. Unfortunately in the scramble Serbia lose it and it ends with an Anthony Edwards dunk!
We're almost through with the first quarter and that's Kevin Durant with another dagger from outside. 20-23 in favor of the U.S.A.!
A heavy foul from Micic on Kevin Durant resulting in both tumbling to the ground. We've got a review of the play by the referees. Micic looks like he body checked Durant and that oculd be a problem.
The Americans are employing a full-court press and it appears to be working as Jokic is denied in the paint after a the struggle to get him the ball. We're still tied at 20 a piece.
Anthony Edwards follows up Durant's effort with another from beyond the arc and we've got a tied game as Serbia calls a timeout.
Kevin Durant has checked into the game to massive cheers and immediately goes to work with a huge three pointer. It's 20-17 in Serbia's favor.
Bogdanovic with an impressive drive to the basket for 2. That's 17-14 Serbia. Actually make that 19-14 after a steal and another Bogdanovic bucket.
We've got a change with Bam Adebayo entering for LeBron James. Even Kings need to rest.
LeBron James with a coast to coast move, showing why he's considered the greatest there is. He'll go to the line for a possible three after making the layup.
That's another three from Booker after some lovely play by Jrue Holiday who drew two defenders. We're now at 12-11 Serbia!
Devin Booker with another three following a tough Jokic layup, the Americans are beginning to find their rhythm.
Curry doing what he does best from beyond the arc and we've got ourselves a 3! it's 10-5!
Serbia have started off hot with a flush of plays taking it to 10-2 following a LeBron James breakaway dunk. Kerr has called for a timeout and probably rightly so!
Joel Embiid is fouled in the paint and will go to the line where he misses both. Serbia bring it up but quickly lose it to LeBron James.
Serbia with another quick two on the inside to take it to 4-0
And away we go! It's Serbia who draws first blood after a slick layup for 2.
It's time for tip off
With tip off now just a few minutes away, we can definitely say we're excited. Be sure to stay with us as we take you through the action play by play. It's Serbia vs U.S.A. Let's go!
King James is ready
There is no doubt as to who Team USA will be looking to as they try to secure a victory in their opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics against a solid Serbian side. Stay with us!
KD is back!
That's very good news for Team USA but not so much for Serbia. The Hall of Famer undoubtedly brings greater versatility to a roster that is already stacked.
It's almost time...
We're now less than an hour away from tip off and we can't wait. Where predictions are concerned, most will likely be favoring the Americans to win, but again, it would be a mistake to outrightly dismiss the Serbians.
Led by their obvious star, Nikola Jokic, the Eastern Europeans will have no reason to fear Team USA, knowing full well they are more than capable of giving what they get.
At this point, we're not going to call a result but we can say that should the Americans win, it won't be a victory that comes easily.
We're expecting fireworks in this one
It's the NBA's current best player against the man many say is the best in history. Oh and there is also the matter of Serbia vs USA. Stay with us for this one because it's gonna be lit!
The last time they met
While it was clearly just an exhibition game, one has to consider that it was less than two weeks ago. That's to say, it's not a bad indicator as to what we can expect from both teams.
On the other hand, the fact that this evening's game will be about a whole lot more than bragging rights is likely to make a significant difference. Stay tuned!
Something to consider...
While they may not have the ethnic diversity that we see in the other teams in the tournament, it would be a mistake to think that the Serbians don't know how to play ball. Even more so when you consider that they are led by the NBA's current MVP, Nikola Jokic.
As strange as it sounds, he did indeed and then proceeded to question whether Team USA has what it takes to win a gold medal against a much improved international field. Strange words, it seems to us, for a player who only recently stepped into the American framework.
Steph, that's just silly...
Not that we needed a reminder that the Warriors star is the greatest shooter we've ever seen, but just in case, here's one...
Team USA's basketball stars spread the love
It's not everyday you get to meet basketball's biggest stars but to be fair, it's not everyday you get to meet Team USA's youngest ever track Olympian. Sounds like a fair trade to us.
This is gonna be good
We're now just about three hours away from tip off and to be perfectly honest, the excitement is real. The Americans of course will come into the contest as heavy favorites, but there are two things that can't be denied.
Firstly, the Team USA has not been playing at full strength and to be frank, it has shown. Not only did they narrowly escape South Sudan in a pre-tournament exhibition game, they appeared to struggle against the team they will face tonight as well in their final game before the Olympics began.
That's not to say it will be the same this Sunday evening as we're now talking about a game that counts, but something tells us we're in for some twists and turns.
Get up to speed on Team USA
Welcome Welcome Welcome
We've got an exciting Sunday in store for basketball fans as Team USA will be getting underway in Paris with a tricky game against a solid Serbia team that boasts the NBA's reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic.
Of course, it's not like the Americans don't have an absolutely stacked roster themselves with the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Anthony Davis set to take the court, and that's just a few of the names.
Yet, it's got to be said that unlike previous editions of the Summer Games which have seen the Americans dominate, winning 16 gold medals to date, there is every indication that it will be anything but smooth sailing in the French capital. Indeed, with a wealth of stars spread around the world in the modern game, the field has never been more level when it comes to international play.
To that end, we invite you to stay with us as we take you through each and every play, in what should be an intense contest between two of the tournament's top teams.