Team USA defeated Brazil 122-87 on Tuesday in the Olympic quarterfinals. The team is now two wins away from a fifth consecutive gold medal and is set for another meeting with Serbia in the semi-finals on Thursday.
With Tuesday's 35-point win, Team USA won each of its first four games by at least 15 points, marking the first time a US men's team has accomplished this since the 2008 Rescue Team, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Devin Booker led the Americans in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-9 (66.7%) shooting from the field and five 3-pointers. He also finished with three rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes of play.
Kevin Durant broke Lisa Leslie's all-time Olympic scoring record, but the job isn't done for USA Basketball. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/oiGdzau94b
– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024
Kevin Durant also added 11 points for Team USA, passing Lisa Leslie (488 career points) for the most points in American Olympic history. Durant, who entered the day five points behind Leslie as the US Olympic scoring leader, finished the day with a career-high 494 points.
“Records are meant to be broken, so someone is going to come and do the same to me,” Durant said. “I'm focused on trying to win this gold.”
Team USA star LeBron James needed four stitches after suffering a facial injury against Brazil at the Paris Olympics
In addition, LeBron James recorded 12 points, three boards, nine assists, and three steals in 17 minutes as a starter. The four-time NBA MVP shot 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the field and hit two of his three free throws.
However, James needed four stitches above his left eye after Brazil's Georginho De Paula accidentally elbowed him in the face midway through the third quarter as he went for a rebound.
James left the locker room and did not return to the game. It is not expected to cost him again. James' ball movement helped the Americans collect 18 assists in their first 19 baskets.
SEMIS SECURED 🔒
Men of @usabasketball will face Serbia in the next round.#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/s1PD6pwdCS
– Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 6, 2024
“For someone who looks forward in his heart, to be the best scorer in the history of the NBA if that is the second thing he does, he is crazy,” said the coach of the USA team Steve Kerr. “But that's LeBron.”
Although Team USA remains undefeated at 4-0, the Americans are not taking their matchup against Serbia lightly.
“We can't get any sleep because we beat them twice,” said Kerr. “We have to prepare for their big effort. We have to think, what are they going to do differently?”
Former NBA player Bruno Caboclo led Brazil with 24 points.
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