On Wednesday, Team USA men’s basketball head coach Steve Kerr made a smart move by shaking up the starting lineup, leading the team to their second consecutive double-digit victory in Olympic pool play.
Facing South Sudan—a team they narrowly defeated in a recent exhibition—the Americans were determined to deliver a stronger performance now that the stakes were higher.
The result? A decisive 103-86 win, showcasing the team’s impressive talent.
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Notably absent from the starting lineup was former center Joel Embiid. Despite being a seven-time NBA All-Star and the 2023 MVP, Embiid’s performance in past games had been subpar, prompting Kerr to make a change. In his place, Anthony Davis stepped up, while Miami’s Bam Adebayo shone off the bench with 18 points and seven boards.
This victory pushes Team USA to a 2-0 record, securing their spot in the Olympic quarterfinals.
Interestingly, Embiid did not play at all during this matchup.
Kerr also made the decision to place Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday on the bench, replacing him with Jayson Tatum, who previously sat out the win against Team Serbia.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who also missed that game, logged a brief eight minutes on the court. Overall, 11 of the 12 players saw action during the game.
This story will be updated…