- Basketball giants USA defeated South Sudan in a highly anticipated clash at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- The Lebron James-led team dominated the contest to register a 103-86 victory against a team that almost upset them a few weeks ago
- South Sudan face Serbia on Saturday in their final Group C match looking to advance to the quarter-final
The USA men's basketball team comfortably beat South Sudan 103-86 to register their second win at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
South Sudan, coming off a historic win against Puerto Rico, struggled to keep up with USA's NBA superstars.
The East African nation faces Nikola Jokic's Serbia in their final Group C game, hoping to advance to the next round.
Royal Ivey's side made a bad start in the first quarter but quickly bounced back before the reigning champions took control to win 26-14.
PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!
South Sudan improved in the second quarter, losing by seven. The USA went into halftime with a commanding 55-36 lead.
Ivey's team won the third quarter 18-21 and the fourth quarter 30-29. They came to within 11 points, but the USA pulled away to secure a big win.
The African representatives shot 45% from the field, while the USA made 60% of their field goals.
Several players on each team score double digits
South Sudan struggled to score from deep but improved as the game went on. They shot 38% (11/29), while the defending champions shot 43% from three.
Marial Shayok (12 points), Bul Kuol (16 points), Nuni Omot (24 points), and Carlik Jones (18 points) were South Sudan's leading scorers.
Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Bam Adebayo, and Devin Booker scored in double digits for the USA.
The East Africans turned the ball over 19 times, which resulted in 26 points for the USA. They face Serbia on Saturday, August 3, knowing a win will give them a spot in the next round of the Olympic Games.
South Sudan defeats Puerto Rico
TUKO.co.ke also reported that South Sudan registered their first ever win at the Olympoics after beating Puerto Rico. Royal Ivey's team won 90-79.
Carlik Jones (19 points), Nuni Omot (12 points), Wenyen Gabriel (6 points, 9 rebounds), and Marial Shayok (15 points) were the leading scorers for the East African team.
Luol Deng calls out ex-NBA stars
Legit.ng also reported that Luol Deng, President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, responded to former NBA stars Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas after they mocked his team.
Pierce and Arenas came under fire for taunting South Sudan before and after their mouth-watering exhibition game with the USA, per ESPN.
Source: TUKO.co.ke