Team USA is gearing up for a quarterfinal clash with Brazil on Tuesday as part of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Finishing pool play with a perfect 3-0 record, the U.S. enters the knockout round as the top seed, demonstrating strong form following a clean sweep in their pool with an impressive average victory margin of 21.3 points.
Brazil, on the other hand, finished their pool play at 1-2, only snagging a win against Japan, with losses to Germany and France.
The U.S. aims to continue their impressive performance, having showcased their skills against Serbia in a dominating 110-84 victory. Kevin Durant led scoring with 23 points, complemented by LeBron James, who contributed 21 points along with seven rebounds and nine assists. Other contributors included Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, and Stephen Curry, all of whom scored in double figures.
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In their following match against South Sudan, the U.S. secured a 103-86 win with Bam Adebayo leading the team with 18 points. Durant and Anthony Edwards, along with James, Booker, and Derrick White, all contributed to the scoreboard.
Most recently, the U.S. triumphed over Puerto Rico 104-83, where Edwards shone with 26 points, while Joel Embiid and Durant added 15 and 11 respectively, with James, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Davis each contributing 10 points.
Davis has emerged as a key asset for the team, boasting averages of 8.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting an impressive 58.8 percent from the floor across three games.
In a recent chat with Andscape, Davis highlighted his adaptable playstyle, expressing a willingness to support the team in any role, whether as a starter or off the bench.
“I just love to win and do whatever I got to do. I can defer to the defensive end and block shots,” Davis shared.
Aware of the stakes in the upcoming match, Davis is approaching it with the urgency of a Game 7 in the NBA Finals.
“It’s go time. We need to prepare for Brazil and play mistake-free basketball to succeed,” he asserted.
Davis’ mindset sets the tone for the team as they strive to secure their fifth consecutive gold medal in men’s basketball.