The crowd is still there very early at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq to watch Team USA warm up. Enough to trigger boos when Joel Embiid appears… who raises his arms and asks for more!
The other surprise is that the Sixers' pivot is not in the starting five, replaced by Anthony Davis. Jayson Tatum, not used in the previous game, is starting instead of Jrue Holiday. Steve Kerr and his staff have thus decided to “switch” everything defensively against this South Sudan team that had almost beaten them in preparation. A strategy that prevents Carlik Jones and company from getting open 3-point shots.
It is with the entry of the substitutes (Derrick White, Anthony Edwards or even Kevin Durant!) that the United States will make the gap. With such an aggressive defense, South Sudan will inevitably have trouble keeping up the pace.
Stephen Curry frustrated
And with a very good Derrick White, who blocks and intercepts, Team USA applies itself and leads 26-14 after ten minutes.
Kevin Durant scores from afar and is quickly imitated by Tyrese Haliburton, who reappears in Steve Kerr's rotation, and scores two consecutive 3-pointers. Bam Adebayo confirms that he can now claim the title of new “Splash Brother”, unless he stole Stephen Curry's shot, who still can't find the target, and whose warm-up had already been complicated. Since he only leaves the court when he has succeeded in his last paper, the “Chief” had to try several times… only managing to do so when the lights went out!
Under the eyes of Spike Lee, present in the stands, the United States took the lead (55-36), despite 13 points from Nuni Omot. Only Joel Embiid did not come into play on the American side…
But as Stephen Curry grew frustrated at not finding the rim, South Sudan made several 3-pointers, including Bul Kuol, and Steve Kerr called a timeout as the lead narrowed slightly.
The public celebrates Léon Marchand!
The American coach sends his substitutes back onto the field but another outside shot allows South Sudan to catch up again (60-49) while Kevin Durant and his teammates do a bit of nonsense. Derrick White still does some good, and the United States are at +16 (73-57) at the end of the third quarter.
While the crowd launched a “wave”, in which the “VIPs” (Grant Hill, Mark Tatum, the Team USA players, etc.) participated, Stephen Curry also suffered in defense against Carlik Jones, but the United States still closed ranks so as not to, this time, give themselves a fright in the “money-time”.
As Team USA rolls towards the end of the match, the crowd at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium celebrates Léon Marchand's new Olympic title by alternating chants of “Léon”, “Who doesn't jump is not French” and “Marseillaise”.
The United States can celebrate its second victory in two games in these 2024 Olympic Games (103-86).
