Exhale, America. For now.
Click the photo to read more about Team USA's comeback win over Serbia from Dan Wetzel on the ground in Paris:
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Stephen Curry saved Team USA on Thursday night in Paris.
The Golden State Warriors star led the United States out of a huge 17-point hole to beat Nikola Jokić and Serbia 95-91 in their semifinals matchup in France. That officially sent the Americans back to the championship game, where they’ll attempt to win a fifth consecutive gold medal on Saturday.
Curry dropped an Olympic career-high 36 points in the win while hitting nine 3-pointers, which is the most any player has hit in a single game throughout the entire Olympics.
Curry went off almost immediately on Thursday, too. He dropped 14 of the first 15 points for the United States and hit his career high not even halfway through the first quarter. He had 17 points at the end of the first period, but the rest of Team USA shot just 1-of-8 from the field combined in the opening 10 minutes.
Serbia took full advantage of that lull, too. They took an 11-point lead at halftime, and kept their double-digit advantage well into the fourth while shutting down every American run.
Finally, it was Joel Embiid that sparked the push Team USA needed. He went on a quick 7-0 run of his own before a blocked shot set up a drive from LeBron James that finally tied the game up.
LEBRON JAMES TIES IT UP FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 👑🇺🇸#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC, USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/B3puaz0kmJ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024
Curry then hit a huge 3-pointer, his ninth of the night, and then he and James each followed up with a layup to suddenly put the United States up by seven, which was its largest lead of the night at the time and enough to eventually push them to the four-point win.
Embiid finished with 19 points and four rebounds while shooting 8-of-11 from the field to go with Curry’s 36-point outing. James had a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. They were the only three players to hit double figures for Team USA.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led Serbia with 20 points in the loss, which sent them into the bronze medal game against Germany on Saturday. Jokić added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Aleksa Avramovic finished with 15 points.
France fended off Germany 73-69 in the other semifinal game on Thursday to earn a spot in the gold medal game. Guerschon Yabusele dropped 17 points to lead France, and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama had 11 points and seven rebounds to lift the French back to the gold medal game for a second consecutive Games. The United States beat France at the Tokyo Olympics to win a fourth straight gold.
Here's the full player stats from Team USA's dramatic victory:
See how the game unfolded below:
Exhale, America. For now.
Click the photo to read more about Team USA's comeback win over Serbia from Dan Wetzel on the ground in Paris:
Team USA definitely has a game on its hands and an uphill climb in the second half. Steph Curry leads the U.S. with 20 points, the only player on the team in double figures. LeBron James has nine.
Aleksa Avramovic has 15 for Serbia, followed by 12 from Bogdan Bogdanovic and nine for Nikola Jokic.
It’s time to get Kevin Durant interested, no? Can’t remember seeing him get a touch
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) August 8, 2024
Big question for the U.S.: Where is Kevin Durant? He has zero points and only took one shot in the first half.
Steph Curry hits another 3 for Team USA to close the margin to 51–40. But Bogdan Bogdanovic responds with a 3 of his own. Serbia 54, USA 40.
Curry has 20 for the U.S., shooting 6-for-9 on 3s.
Serbia answers with a 3 by Aleksa Avramovic to restore its lead to 13, 50–37.
LeBron James hits a three, then gets a steal on the other end of the floor.
That sets up Joel Embiid for a monster dunk past Filip Petrusev to once again cut Serbia's lead to 10 points, 47–37. Embiid has seven points.
joel embiid throws it down pic.twitter.com/HoJmgKPJuh
— who is @goaltend (@2MANYBRIDGES) August 8, 2024
Bogdan Bogdanovic hits a three to stop Team USA's rally. He has 12 points for Serbia, shooting 2-for-3 on his 3s.
The U.S. might be beginning its comeback, scoring seven straight points after a three by Joel Embiid.
Nikola Jokic blocks LeBron James on the defensive end, gets the ball back at the top of the arc in transition, then drives the ball to the basket for a score and a foul.
Jokic makes the free throw to give Serbia a 42–27 lead over USA. He has nine points with six assists
France outlasted Germany, 73–69, in the other men's basketball semifinal. Guerschon Yabusele scored 17 for the winners, with Isaia Cordinier adding 16. Both players had seven rebounds.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA WITH A POSTERIZING DUNK!! 🇫🇷🤯
📺 USA Network and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/WtZJIueo8p— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024
Dennis Schroder led Germany with a team-high 18 points, followed by 10 from Franz Wagner.
The host country will face the winner of USA-Serbia in the gold medal game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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