USA Basketball Escapes Shocking Defeat at Hands of South Sudan
The United States Olympic team, led by NBA superstar LeBron James, staged a dramatic comeback to defeat South Sudan 101-100 in a hard-fought match in London.
US Overcomes 16-Point Deficit to Claim Victory
Despite facing a 16-point deficit, the Americans battled back to avoid a potentially historic upset, with James scoring a crucial layup with just eight seconds remaining.
South Sudan Makes Olympic Debut
South Sudan, an African nation that gained independence just 13 years ago, made its Olympic debut and dominated the match for most of the game, but ultimately fell short.
Narrow Miss by Carlik Jones
The South Sudanese team had a chance to win the game when Carlik Jones attempted a shot with just four seconds left, but the ball bounced off the backboard without going in. The officials did not call a foul on Anthony Edwards for his block on Wenyen Gabriel, which sparked controversy.
LeBron James: "It’s a Good Reminder That Any Team Will Play Their Best"
James said after the game, "I’m going to be honest: I like this more than blowouts. At least they tested us. It’s a good reminder that when you play any team, the rivals are playing the match of their lives." US coach Steve Kerr added, "We have to expect everyone to play like that."
Talent Gap Highlighted
The American team features 12 players who are all NBA champions, with a combined 189,038 points in the regular season. In contrast, four South Sudanese players have appeared in an NBA game, totaling 1,228 points.