OLYMPIC GAMES | BASKETBALL
What is Team USA’s biggest ever defeat in men’s basketball?
South Sudan were moments away from a shock win in the USA Basketball Showcase in London and led by 15 points at one stage.
Team USA are firm favourites to win the men’s basketball gold medal once again at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, although they were given quite a shock by South Sudan, who they will face in the group stage in France, in Saturday’s USA Basketball Showcase in London.
The East African nation led 26-24 at the end of the first quarter, although what followed in the second came as even more of a shock to the US, as well as everyone following the game. The South Sudanese opened up a 15-point lead at one stage, which had more than one onlooker wondering whether they could inflict Team USA’s biggest ever defeat.
Steve Kerr’s team managed to turn things round in their favour in the third and fourth quarters, but survived a huge scare before ultimately winning 101-100.
The United States have long been the dominant force in men’s basketball, but there have nevertheless been a few crushing losses all the way, albeit not always in terms of the scoreline.
The United States men’s team’s heaviest ever loss
To find Team USA’s heaviest ever defeat, we have to go back to their opening game of the group stage at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, when Puerto Rico ran out 19-point winners, triumphing 92-73.
A sign of things to come, the US were beaten in the semifinals by Argentina, who went on to win the tournament. That was the last time Team USA failed to win the Olympic gold medal and only the fourth time in 20 editions of the Games.