Incredible things from LeBron James and Kevin Durant, comfortable victory for Team USA against Serbia (110-84) with Petrusev and Milutinov.
Many people were anticipating this match, and many believed that Serbia would give Team USA a hard time. However, Kevin Durant’s return after a three-month absence and LeBron James’ determination led to a show from the Americans and a comfortable victory with a score of 110-84 in the Olympic basketball tournament.
The Pier Morrois was packed, and both NBA “veterans,” who do not play like old men at all, delivered a fantastic performance to the 27 thousand basketball and sports fans. KD scored 21 points (3/3 two-pointers, 5/5 three-pointers) in the first half, the Serbs, who hoped to compete with Steve Kerr’s stars, collapsed in the third quarter and will try to secure second place in the group with wins against Puerto Rico and South Sudan.
Incredible performance also from King James (21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists in 27 minutes), with Team USA finishing the forty minutes with 18/32 three-pointers and Steve Kerr leaving Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum out of the rotation.
Nikola Jokic (20 points, 7/9 two-pointers, 1/6 three-pointers, 3/4 free throws, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals) was desperately alone, as Bogdanovic and Micic were not at the level needed by Svetislav Pesic. Not much from Filip Petrusev, even less from Nikola Milutinov, in a lukewarm afternoon for the Serbs who dream of a medal.
THE QUARTERS: 20-25, 49-58, 65-84, 84-110
SERBIA (Pesic): Petrusev 4 (2/2 two-pointers, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), Jovic 5 (1/5 three-pointers), Bogdanovic 14 (4/8 two-pointers, 2/6 three-pointers, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers), Marinkovic 6 (2), Dobric 13 (1), Jokic 20 (7/9 two-pointers, 1/6 three-pointers, 3/4 free throws, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals), Micic 11 (1/3 two-pointers, 2/7 three-pointers, 3/4 free throws, 2 assists), Guduric, Avramovic 10 (4/5 two-pointers, 2/2 free throws), Milutinov 1
USA (Kerr): Curry 11 (3/7 three-pointers), Edwards 11 (2), James 21 (8/10 two-pointers, 1/3 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 turnovers), Durant 23 (3/4 two-pointers, 5/5 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws), White 2, Embiid 4, Holiday 15 (3/3 two-pointers, 3/5 three-pointers, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Adebayo 4, Davis 7 (8 rebounds), Booker 12 (4/5 three-pointers)
Team stats for Serbia: 22/37 two-pointers, 9/37 three-pointers, 13/17 free throws, 32 rebounds (22 defensive – 10 offensive), 18 assists, 12 steals, 13 turnovers, 16 fouls
Team stats for USA: 25/37 two-pointers, 18/32 three-pointers, 6/10 free throws, 39 rebounds (33 defensive – 6 offensive), 24 assists, 9 steals, 3 blocks, 17 turnovers, 18 fouls