That was close! The NBA stars are on the brink of elimination in the semi-finals at the Olympics. But the superstars take over in the final phase and avert disgrace
Top favorite USA was only able to avert a sensational semi-final exit at the Olympic basketball tournament with great difficulty. The team led by NBA stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant defeated runners-up Serbia 95:91 (43:54) in the Bercy Arena in Paris, overturning a 13-point deficit in the final quarter.
The gold medal winners of the last four Summer Games will face France in the final on Saturday (9.30 p.m.). The hosts had previously defeated world champions Germany 73:69, abruptly ending the gold dream of Dennis Schröder and Co. Germany will play for bronze against Serbia with former national coach Svetislav Pesic on Saturday at 11.00 a.m.
Great Curry show
The second semi-final in the Bercy Arena began with a great Stephen Curry show. The Golden State Warriors superstar scored 14 of the Americans’ first 15 points, hitting four threes in the process. On his last shot from distance, Curry looked demonstratively in the direction of the US bench while the ball was still in the air. In the end, he was the best scorer with 36 points.
However, the Serbs were not impressed by any of this. Quite the opposite. The runners-up showed no respect for the NBA stars and pulled 17 points ahead at one stage. Surprisingly, the Serbs were still eleven points ahead at the break (54:43).
The superstars take over
In the third quarter, it seemed as if the Americans recognized the seriousness of the situation and stepped up their game. Coach Steve Kerr’s team cut the deficit to seven points (59:66) and everyone in the arena was now expecting a turnaround. Yet the Serbs did not back down – quite the opposite. Before the final period, Pesic’s team was suddenly 13 points in front again (76:63).
However, the superstars then took over. James tied the scores at 84:84 and Curry put the USA back in front for the first time since the early opening spell (87:86). Serbia continued to fight, but narrowly missed out on a sensation
