‘We were embarrassed at halftime’: US relieved after escape against underdogs South Sudan

LeBron James prevented the US from a surprising defeat.

James made a crucial layup with only eight seconds remaining in the game on Saturday. This led the US Olympic team, who will be competing in the Paris Games, to narrowly win 101-100 against South Sudan in London. The team managed to come back from a 16-point deficit, preventing what could have been a major upset in their history.

US coach Steve Kerr mentioned that when they face other teams, it is important to remember that it may be the most important game of their lives. He emphasized the need to be prepared for every team to bring their best effort.

South Sudan, a country in Africa that became independent only 13 years ago, is set to compete in the Olympics for the first time. They had a lead for over half of the game and had a chance to win at the end. However, Carlik Jones missed a shot off the glass with four seconds remaining, allowing the US to narrowly secure a win.

"I'll be straight up with you: I prefer these close games over blowouts," James said while exiting the arena. "At least we are challenged."

Trailing by 16 points earlier in the game, the US team made a remarkable comeback with an 18-0 scoring streak in the second half. Despite their efforts, they had to rely on a clutch performance towards the end to secure the win against South Sudan. JT Thor's three-pointer put South Sudan in the lead with only 20 seconds remaining, but the US team called a timeout and entrusted the ball to James for a final play.

He made it seem simple: He patiently waited before smoothly driving to the basket and scoring to give the US team the lead again. James ended the game with the highest score of 25 points, as well as six rebounds and seven assists for the US team. They now have a 4-0 record with only one more game left on their pre-Olympic exhibition tour, which will be against the World Cup champions Germany on Monday. Anthony Davis also contributed with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Marial Shayok scored 24 points for South Sudan, while Jones had a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The groups will face each other in the Paris Olympics on 31 July.

After the game, Stephen Curry explained, "In basketball, mistakes happen. You always strive for perfection but it's not always possible. The key is to focus on the details that contribute to a win. While offense may be inconsistent, it's the defense that ultimately leads to success in championships and other achievements."

The matchup seemed like it would be unequal, but the first half proved otherwise. The US team has 12 players who are All-Stars or NBA champions, with a total of 189,038 points and 7,832 starts in their careers. In comparison, South Sudan has only four players who have played in the NBA, totaling 1,228 points and 19 starts.

It didn't make a difference. The US team was leading 8-0 after three minutes. However, South Sudan managed to score 24 points more than the US team for the rest of the first half. The US team allowed South Sudan to have a 61% shooting rate in the first half and were outscored 21-3 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

Steve Kerr, the coach of the US team, expressed his disappointment during halftime, calling his team "embarrassed." After the game, he reflected on the improvements in basketball worldwide, acknowledging that the competition has become tougher.

Kerr admitted that he didn't do a good job getting the team ready for the slow start in the first half. He acknowledged that they didn't pay enough attention to the opponent's capabilities, which was his responsibility. This lack of preparation allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early in the game. Despite this, Kerr praised South Sudan for playing well and described the game as wonderful. He mentioned that the win was important for the team to experience and understand what to expect in future games in Paris and Lille.

In the second half, there was an impressive 18-0 scoring spree that helped the US team secure a victory. James played a significant role in this run. The team was able to turn around a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead. South Sudan had a strong start and led by 16 points late in the first half with a score of 58-42. However, the Americans managed to score the last basket before halftime, cutting the deficit to 14 points.

However, the crucial moment was when the team went on an 18-0 run. James made four assists during this period and Curry made a 3-pointer from around 35 feet away towards the end of the third quarter, which helped the US team take the lead for the first time since the first quarter, with a score of 79-76.

Wenyen Gabriel made a three-point shot to bring South Sudan within one point at 85-84, but James, who used to play with him on the Los Angeles Lakers, scored a three-pointer on the next possession for the US team. The US team ended up winning by a very small margin.

"Today, we had the opportunity to proudly represent our nation and we displayed our country's capabilities with determination," said Gabriel. "I believe it was a moment of pride for many individuals."

Davis mentioned that due to the heavy traffic in London, the team arrived late at the arena, which disrupted their usual pre-game routines. Despite this, South Sudan proved that they were not willing to give up easily against the US, who are four-time defending gold medalists at the Olympics.

"After the game, Anthony Edwards emphasized the significance of the match by highlighting how it shattered their belief of being invincible. He emphasized the importance of being well-prepared for future games."