Basketball

PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS: BASKETBALL BREAKDOWN, HIGHLIGHTS, STATS, AND TOP PERFORMERS FOR 28 JULY

Day two of men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics featured a historic win for South Sudan and a dominant performance by Team USA against Serbia. Carlik Jones led South Sudan to their first Olympic victory, while Kevin Durant’s stellar play off the bench highlighted Team USA’s triumph.

by
Kicka News
July 29, 2024

Basketball Paris 2024 Olympics

Day two of men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics featured two exciting games at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. The United States began their quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal, while South Sudan made history with their first Olympic basketball victory.

South Sudan, known as the Bright Stars, secured a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico. Carlik Jones led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, with Marial Shayok adding 15 points. South Sudan’s dominance on the boards was a key factor, out-rebounding Puerto Rico 55-37 and scoring 24 second-chance points compared to Puerto Rico’s two.

Team USA kicked off their campaign with a dominant 110-84 victory over Serbia. Despite some pre-Games concerns, the NBA stars looked ready for gold, hitting 18 of 32 three-pointers. Nikola Jokic, Serbia’s three-time NBA MVP, scored 20 points, but it wasn’t enough against a sharp-shooting USA team led by Kevin Durant and LeBron James, who combined for 44 points.

GAME OF THE DAY: SOUTH SUDAN VS. PUERTO RICO South Sudan’s historic win over Puerto Rico in their Olympic debut was the highlight of the day. The Bright Stars, a nation that gained independence in 2011, proved their mettle by securing their first Olympic basketball victory. Carlik Jones, who impressed in warm-up games against Team USA, continued his strong play with 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

PLAYER OF THE DAY: KEVIN DURANT Kevin Durant, despite missing all five of Team USA’s warm-up games, delivered an outstanding performance against Serbia. Coming off the bench, Durant scored 23 points on just nine shots, shooting 89% from the field and hitting all five of his three-point attempts. His scoring prowess provided a significant boost to Team USA’s offense.

OLYMPIC BASKETBALL RESULTS FOR SUNDAY, 28 JULY