Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA came back from a large deficit and outlasted Serbia to advance to gold medal game

Steph Curry’s output and shooting tricks, plus Joel Embiid’s late surge, saved Team USA, preventing humiliation and a trip to the bronze medal game. Team USA has a date on Saturday with France to compete for the gold medal.

The first five minutes were an unyielding fireworks display, but the Serbs’ switching defense prevailed first, closing the quarter ahead by eight digits. Then they raced off to a 17-point advantage as six minutes remained at the half. 

The cause? Wack 3-point protection, Jokić‘s passing carved up doubles, and the Americans went soft on the glass.

Subsequently, the Americans countered with Curry Embiid and James’ deep shooting, slicing the deficit to 43-54 heading into intermission. 

At that point, Curry had 20 marks on 70% accuracy. The rest of Team USA logged eight of 21 shots. 

The Serbians followed up, converting seven of 16 attempts in the third quarter, finding success running the offense through Jokić on post ups and two-man actions. 

Midway through the frame, the Americans cut the score to 59-65 on Jrue Holiday’s 3-pointer set up by Curry. Yet, their counterparts retaliated with a 10-4 run to end the period. 

Team USA didn’t step up until the fourth quarter. There, Embiid scored seven straight points via jumpers in transition, plus at mid and close range in the half-court to cut the deficit to two. Next, James tied the match on a transition layup.

On the next possession, Jokić connected with Filip Petrušev, cutting on the baseline for a dunk as he was doubled by Kevin Durant and James in the middle.

Team USA closed the match with Curry flaring to the top of the key for a rattling trifecta plus scoring on the break. James finished a transition layup. And as Bogdan Bogdanović dribbled up court, Durant guarded him and forced a backcourt violation. 

Defensively, Team USA’s defense permitted zero of nine 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as its help defense cranked up. Serbia had made 15 of 30 triples through three quarters.

Team USA won 95-91, making 57.4% of field goals, including half from deep. Twenty-eight points were scored in the paint.

Additionally, LeBron James had 16 points on six of nine looks, with 12 rebounds and 10 dimes. Curry had 36 marks on 63% accuracy, with eight rebounds and two assists. And Embiid had 19 points on eight of 11 attempts, with four rebounds and two assists.

The players celebrated at mid-court and embraced for a postgame huddle led by James. 

James handled the on-court interview. When asked about starting the fourth quarter down 13 points, he said, “Gotta get it the hard way…Kudos to Serbia, but we came through. Chef Curry [had] a vintage Chef Curry game. Joel [Embiid] was big-time for us. We needed it.”