Team USA finished Olympic pool play 3-0 with a 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico to win the top overall in the medal round of the Paris Olympics. The US will now face Brazil in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at Bercy Arena.
Team USA defeated Puerto Rico by 21 points to advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday at Bercy Arena
Team USA entered the tournament as a 36.5-point favorite. Despite failing to cover the spread, winning by double digits at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium was still the expected result. The US shot 40-of-81 (49.4%) from the floor and 9-of-32 (28.1%) from 3-point range.
“I think we did what we wanted to achieve, we won all three games and got the highest score,” said USA team coach Steve Kerr. “We know we have to play better. This part of the competition gets harder as you go.
“Our goal is to try to improve each game, tomorrow we will have a one-week break, three games. So, we'll see how we do. “
Anthony Edwards invents WINDMILL in Paris! 🔥 #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC and the peacock pic.twitter.com/FdFYNz5eXr
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 3, 2024
Anthony Edwards led Team USA in scoring with 26 points, including 15 in his first 10 minutes on the floor. Finished 11 of 15 shots (73.3%). His windmill breakaway in the fourth quarter delighted the Team USA bench.
“I wanted to drown somebody, but I didn't have a route yet,” Edwards said. “So I'm glad I got that one.”
Sophomore teammate Kevin Durant scored 11 points in another impact reserve performance. She has 48 points in all three games for Lille and is now just five points shy of setting the all-time Olympic scoring record, currently held by Lisa Leslie (488 points).
LeBron James added 10 points, six rebounds, and eight assists; Joel Embiid put up 15 points and two blocks during his breakout season
In addition, LeBron James has started the last two games in point guard. He recorded eight assists against Puerto Rico, finishing pool play with 21 total in three games. The four-time NBA champion also scored 10 points.
While the Americans went 3-0 in Olympic pool play, any loss this time around would cost Team USA the gold.
“We know it's going to be difficult, it's going to be a challenge,” said James. “We better be ready to go.”
Then there is Joel Embiid, who struggled in the first game against Serbia and stayed with South Sudan. Embiid had his best game of the Olympics, as he added 15 points and two blocks.
Joel “Troel” Embiid in the final for Team USA vs Puerto Rico:
– initially you have the ball
-The French crowd cheers him on
-Joel encourages the crowd to roar louder
-Tries sign 3, and airballs it😭
– BASKETBALL ON (@BASKETBALLonX) August 3, 2024
Although the French crowd also criticized him for choosing to play for Team USA, he sees the boos and hisses as praise for being a better basketball player than OK.
“At the end of the day, I think a lot of people think it's hate. I see it as love and respect,” Embiid said. “If I wasn't a GOOD basketball player, I wouldn't have gotten that kind of treatment so I consider myself blessed and that's why I'm in contact with them.”
Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans, the only NBA player on the Puerto Rican roster, led his team with 18 points. Alvarado scored nine points in the first quarter, and Puerto Rico led by eight.
Almost 20 years ago, Puerto Rico opened the 2004 Olympics by pulling off the biggest international upset in history, defeating the Americans by 19 points. It was Team USA's first loss to an NBA team.
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