USA vs. Serbia, Olympic men's basketball semifinal recap; U.S. advances to gold medal game

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USA vs. Serbia, Olympic men's basketball semifinal recap; U.S. advances to gold medal game

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Thu, Aug 8, 2024 ·

10 min read

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Led by Steph Curry , Joel Embiid and LeBron James , Team USA pulled off a truly wild, 17-point comeback to beat Serbia in an Olympics semifinal Thursday.

Curry poured in 36 points in the win after James and Durant had led Team USA entering Thursday's semifinal. The U.S. will now face France in the gold medal game Saturday in Paris.

The last time Team USA and Serbia met, the U.S. won 110-84 July 28 in pool play. Thursday's game was a much closer affair.

Here's a recap of how the United States came back to beat Serbia and advance to the gold medal game.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard LeBron James (6) reacts during the first half against Serbia in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

United States beats Serbia to advance to gold medal game

The U.S. has beaten Serbia 95-91, completing a wild 17-point comeback. Kevin Durant hit a huge jumper with 34 seconds left.

Steph Curry was incredible all night, scoring a game-high 36 points, one point off Carmelo Anthony 's USA record for a single game.

The U.S. will face France for the gold medal Saturday in Paris.

USA leads Serbia 93-91 with 8.2 seconds left

Steph Curry will go to the line with the Americans leading by two points with 8.2 seconds left.

Steph Curry 3-pointer gives USA lead in fourth quarter over Serbia: U.S. completes wild comeback

Steph Curry's amazing day continues, as he buried a 3-pointer to give the USA an 87-86 lead late in the fourth quarter.

LeBron James and Curry then followed with back-to-back layups, and the U.S. leads 91-86 with 1:41 to go.

The U.S. has out-scored Serbia by 18 points in the fourth quarter in what has been a wild comeback.

LeBron James layup ties it; USA storms back to tie Serbia

Joel Embiid had seven consecutive points for Team USA, and LeBron James just hit a layup to tie it 84-84 with 3:39 to go.

The U.S. has come back to make it a new ballgame.

Joel Embiid jumper cuts Serbia lead to 2 points

The U.S. is within one basket.

Joel Embiid hit a jumper and then came away with a block on the other end, and the United States has cut the lead to 84-82. Embiid has the USA's last seven points.

Devin Booker 3 makes it a five-point game: USA trails Serbia

Team USA isn't done yet.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker just hit back-to-back 3s, and the USA trails 78-73 with 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant has 2 points; Serbia leads USA 76-63 entering fourth quarter

Kevin Durant, who has been a key piece to Team USA entering today, is just 1-for-6 from the floor with only two points. Anthony Edwards , the team's leading scorer entering today, also has only two points.

Guduric hit a 3-pointer while drawing the foul from Derrick White , and he then hit the ensuing free throw, and Serbia enters the fourth quarter with a 76-63 lead.

The United States is in serious trouble. Serbia is an incredible 15-of-30 from 3-point range.

USA basketball cuts Serbia lead to six points

Jrue Holliday hit a 3 and Anthony Davis got a put-back to fall, and the U.S. has cut Serbia's lead to 67-61 late in the third quarter.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard LeBron James (6) looks to pass while defended by Serbia power forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Olympic men's basketball: Serbia has 13 3s; USA trails 65-56 midway through third quarter

Serbia's 3-point barrage continues, as they're now 13-for-26 from 3-poiny range.

Steph Curry has responded and is almost single-handedly keeping the United States alive with 27 points on 8 3s.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States centre Anthony Davis (14) dribbles the ball while defended by Serbia power forward Nikola Jokic (15) during the first half in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Serbia leads United States men's basketball 54-43 at halftime

The United States will go into halftime trailing Serbia 54-43.

Steph Curry has a game-high 20 points on six 3s.

LeBron James has nine points, five assists and three rebounds.

Serbia 10-for-19 from 3-point range. Avramovic has a team-high 15 points. Bogdanovic has 12 points. Jokic has nine points and seven assists.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States head coach Steve Kerr reacts during the first half against Serbia in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid throws down huge dunk: USA-Serbia updates, Olympic semifinal

Serbia has brought some extra attitude to the second quarter, and Team USA is responding to it.

After LeBron James hit a 3, Joel Embiid threw down a monstrous dunk, cutting Serbia's lead to 47-37.

Bogdanovic hits 3, stares down Carmelo Anthony; LeBron James, Serbia trade words in heated exchange

Bogdanovic nailed a 3-pointer, extending Serbia's lead to 47-32. After the shot, he appeared to stare down Carmelo Anthony, taunting him. LeBron James and members of Team Serbia then exchanged words after the play.

After a timeout, James nailed a 3-pointer to make it 47-35 with three minutes left.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard Devin Booker (15) passes the ball around Serbia shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (7) during the first half in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid hits a 3; USA on 7-0 run against Serbia

Joel Embiid, while being booed every time he touches the ball, drilled a 3 from the corner, and the United States is now on a 7-0 run.

LeBron James find Devin Booker in transition as USA closes the gap

In transition, LeBron James found Devin Booker in the the lane with a nice bounce-pass, and Booker hit the layup while drawing the foul in a play the United States badly needed.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States head coach Steve Kerr reacts alongside guard LeBron James (6) during the first half against Serbia in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Nikola Jokic blocks LeBron James, then gets layup; Serbia leading USA by 17

Nikola Jokic is getting MVP chants in Paris.

Jokic blocked LeBron James at the rim, and then at the other end, he got a layup to fall while drawing the foul. He also hit the free-throw, extending Serbia's lead to 17, 42-25.

Steve Kerr and Team USA are in serious trouble early on.

USA-Serbia score: United States trails by 14 in second quarter

Everything is falling for Serbia, including a banked-in 3 from Avramovic. Serbia leads 39-25.

LeBron James, still with a bandage over his face, has checked back into the game.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard LeBron James (6) shoots the ball during the first half against Serbia in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Serbia leads United States after first quarter: Men's Olympic basketball semifinal in Paris score

Serbia's offense is simply not facing any resistance from the United States, and they lead 31-23 at the end of the first quarter.

Serbia is 11-of-17 from the floor, and their offense has featured a balanced attack, with three players with at least five points so far. It's the most points Serbia has scored in a quarter during these Olympic games.

The United States, meanwhile, has been all Steph Curry. He has a game-high 17 points after hitting 5-of-7 3-point attempts. But outside of Curry, the U.S. is just 1-for-8 from the floor.

Anthony Edwards with a huge block

Anthony Edwards looked more like he was playing volleyball for a second, spiking a shot attempt into the crowd at the end of the first quarter.

Nikola Jokic, Serbia leading USA

Nikola Jokic has six points and five assists already, and Serbia's offense is bringing it to the Americans.

Bogdanovic has seven points, and Avramovic has a team-high eight points.

Aug 8, 2024; Paris, France; United States centre Joel Embiid (11) shoots the ball during the first half against Serbia in a men's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James hits 3-pointer; Serbia beating Team USA 23-18

LeBron James has gotten in on the action, hitting a 3 from the elbow, but Team Serbia's offense has met little resistance from the Americans, and Serbia leads 23-18.

This game has featured a much higher offensive pace than their last meeting.

USA Olympics basketball: Steph Curry hits no-look 3 vs Serbia

Remember Steph Curry's patented 3-pointer in which he's not even looking as it goes through the net? That has now reached the Olympics stage. Curry has an absurd 14 points halfway through the first quarter.

Curry has 14 of USA's first 15 points.

Team USA vs. Serbia Olympic Men's basketball score: Steph Curry on fire early

Steph Curry is absolutely on fire.

Curry just hit back-to-back 3s, and he has 11 points early on. Team Serbia has done well to weather the Curry storm, and they lead 13-12 in the first quarter.

Steph Curry hits first shot attempt of semifinal game against Serbia

The U.S. has been waiting for Steph Curry to find his shot during his first Olympics. Today, he nailed his first shot attempt of the day as the Americans try to get him going.

A few trips down the floor later, Curry missed a 3 but after an offensive rebound, he drilled a 3-pointer to score the first five points of the game for Team USA.

Below is some pregame information.

LeBron James wearing bandage on face before game vs. Serbia: Olympics update

LeBron James is wearing a large bandage near his left eye in warmups ahead of the semifinals game against Serbia.

James took a left elbow to the eye area from Brazil's Georginho De Paula with 5:41 left in the third quarter of Tuesday's quarterfinals game.

What time does Team USA basketball play Serbia today?

Team USA plays Serbia at 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Bercy Arena in Paris.

What TV channel is Team USA basketball on today?

The game will be televised on USA Network. You can stream the game on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, the NBC app and the NBC Olympics app.

2024 Paris Olympic men's basketball knockout round bracket and medal round schedule

Semifinals: Thursday, Aug. 8

Game 1: France vs. Germany at 11:30 a.m. (USA Network, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com)
Game 2: USA vs. Serbia at 3 p.m. (USA Network, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com)

Medal round: Saturday, Aug. 10

Bronze medal game: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 at 5 a.m. (USA Network, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com)
Gold medal game: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 at 3:30 p.m. (NBC, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com)

Team USA men's basketball stats

Through four games, Anthony Edwards is the US's top scorer with 67 points. Kevin Durant has 59 total points and LeBron James has 55 points. Each of the three has a 20-point game in the tournament.

Devin Booker (49 points) is the other American averaging double figures. Anthony Davis has a team-best 29 total rebounds to go with 38 points.

One guy who has yet to get going offensively is Stephen Curry, who is just 5 of 20 on 3s with 29 total points.

How many Olympic gold medals has LeBron James won?

Paris 2024 Olympics - Basketball - Men's Group Phase - Group C - Puerto Rico vs United States - Lille, Pierre Mauroy Stadium, Villeneve-d'Ascq, France - August 03, 2024. Lebron James of United States celebrates the team's win REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

LeBron James has won two gold medals and one bronze in three previous Olympics. He was among a group of younger players who did not get many minutes in the 2004 Olympics when Team USA lost in the semifinals and settled for a bronze medal. James then became one of the leaders of the Redeem Team, which won gold in 2008, and was again a leader on the 2012 gold medal team.

How many Olympic gold medals has Kevin Durant won?

Jul 31, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States guard Kevin Durant (7) in the third quarter against South Sudan during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant also is in his fourth Olympics, having won a gold medal in each of the previous three Summer Games.

How many Olympics has Stephen Curry played in?

Believe it or not, this is Steph Curry's first appearance in the Olympics. He is one of two NBA MVPs making their Olympic debut for Team USA. Joel Embiid is the other.

Team USA Men's Basketball Olympic Roster

Bam Adebayo , Miami Heat
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Haliburton , Indiana Pacers
Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Jayson Tatum , Boston Celtics
Derrick White, Boston Celtics

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: USA men's basketball Olympic score updates vs serbia

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