The 2024 Olympics men's basketball semifinal clash between the USA and Serbia showcased one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent Olympic history. The USA men's basketball team came back from a daunting deficit to edge out Serbia, 95-91, securing their spot in the gold medal game against France.
Serbia dominated much of the game, leading for over 35 of the 40 minutes. At one point, the USA found themselves trailing by 17 points and entering the final quarter down by 13 points. Serbia's impressive performance was spearheaded by a robust lineup featuring Aleksa Avramovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ognjen Dobric, who all shot well from beyond the arc. Nikola Jokic played nearly the entire game, contributing significantly with 17 points and a game-high 11 assists.
Fourth Quarter Comeback
The game took a dramatic turn in the fourth quarter. USA's coach, Steve Kerr, known for his deep rotations throughout the Olympics, opted to lean heavily on his veteran players as the game hung in the balance. "Having spent most of the Olympics playing a deep rotation, U.S. coach Steve Kerr relied heavily on his veterans with the game on the line," an observer noted. Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker formed the critical closing lineup that orchestrated the stunning comeback.
In the decisive fourth quarter, the USA outscored Serbia 32-15. Stephen Curry was instrumental, making nine 3-pointers—the second-most by a U.S. men's basketball player in Olympic history—and scoring a total of 36 points. His sharpshooting was complemented by LeBron James' versatile performance. "James, meanwhile, was everywhere down the stretch. Playing the entire fourth quarter, he had six points, six rebounds and four assists and finished with his second career Olympics triple-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists," another account detailed.
Serbia struggled to maintain their earlier momentum, missing all nine of their 3-point attempts in the final quarter. The relentless defensive and offensive pressure applied by the USA's veteran lineup proved too much for Serbia to handle. Steve Kerr's judicious use of substitutions also played a crucial role. Apart from swapping in Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis until the final seconds, he made no other changes in the fourth quarter.
Key Contributions and Tactical Decisions
Derrick White's brief tenure on the court proved challenging for the USA, as they were outscored by 16 points during his 6:46 minutes of play. Kevin Durant emerged as the only U.S. player with a positive plus-minus rating in the semifinals, highlighting his critical impact, even as the team battled through an intense matchup.
The USA's tactical shift and perseverance paid off magnificently, with the team managing to overturn a significant deficit and secure their place in the final. The synergy and experience of seasoned players like Curry, James, Durant, Embiid, and Booker proved to be the decisive factor in overcoming a formidable Serbian side.
The Road to Gold
With this victory, the USA men's basketball team now advances to the gold medal game, where they will face France. Having already displayed resilience and depth, the team will undoubtedly be geared up for another challenging contest. Coach Kerr and his squad will aim to build on their phenomenal semifinal performance as they seek to add another golden chapter to their storied Olympic history.