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The U.S. found itself in trouble against Serbia\u2014after cruising through their first four games of the 2024 Olympics, the Americans\u2019 quest for Olympic gold seemed doomed to end in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
The largest deficit was 17 points, and as they headed into the fourth quarter down by 11, the U.S. men\u2019s basketball team was desperate for a spark.<\/p>\n
Kevin Durant<\/strong> and Devin Booker<\/strong> ignited the comeback, scoring six points in just two seconds. Then, Stephen Curry<\/strong> delivered one of the most remarkable scoring performances in U.S. Olympic history, leading the team of NBA stars to a cinematic 95-91 victory on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a godlike performance,\u201d Durant said of Curry.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of Team USA basketball,\u201d Curry said. \u201cAnd that was a special one.\u201d<\/p>\n Curry put together his best performance in a USA jersey, scoring 36 points\u2014just one shy of the American Olympic record for men\u2019s basketball held by Carmelo Anthony<\/strong> and the most ever for a U.S. player in a knockout game, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was only a matter of time before he had one of these games,\u201d LeBron James<\/strong> said of Curry. \u201cWe could see it every day. He puts too much work in not to have a game like this. We wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the perfect time for Chef to come out and do what he did.\u201d<\/p>\n James\u2014the first men\u2019s basketball player to carry the U.S. flag at the start of an Olympics\u2014also made history by recording the fourth triple-double in U.S. Olympic history.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew it was going to be difficult,\u201d James said postgame. \u201cWe knew Serbia was going to give us everything they had.\u201d<\/p>\n When the Americans tied the game with about 3:35 left, Curry shared a smile with Team USA\u2019s biggest cheerleader, Carmelo Anthony, who was sitting courtside. Bogdan Bogdanovic<\/strong> also had a moment with the Team USA legend, seemingly taunting him by mimicking Anthony\u2019s trademark \u2018three to the dome\u2019 gesture after hitting a 3-pointer.<\/p>\n Serbia executed a fantastic game plan and made shots\u2014including 15 3-pointers. Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic<\/strong> contributed 17 points and 11 assists, while Bogdanovic scored 20 points.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really humbled to have been a part of this game,\u201d U.S. coach Steve Kerr<\/strong> said, tipping his hat multiple times to Serbia. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the greatest basketball games I\u2019ve ever been a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey played the perfect game and forced us to reach the highest level of competition that we could find. Our guys were incredible in that fourth quarter, and they got it done.\u201d<\/p>\n Serbia coach Svetislav Pe\u0161i\u0107<\/strong> reiterated all summer that the U.S. team assembled for the Paris Games was better than any in Olympic history\u2014even the Dream Team, he insisted.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re that good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n