Home » Paris Olympics: USA basketball steamrolls Brazil to set up semifinal matchup with Nikola Jokić, Serbia

Paris Olympics: USA basketball steamrolls Brazil to set up semifinal matchup with Nikola Jokić, Serbia

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August 6, 2024August 6, 2024
Paris Olympics: USA basketball steamrolls Brazil to set up semifinal matchup with Nikola Jokić, Serbia

There was little doubt about this one from the opening tip.

USA men’s basketball took early control en route to a dominant 122-87 win over Brazil in the Olympic quarterfinals on Tuesday. The win sets up a matchup with Nikola Jokić and Serbia in the semifinals with a trip to the gold-medal game at stake.

Devin Booker paced Team USA with 18 points as six U.S. players scored in double figures. Joel Embiid responded to the French boo-birds in the stands with 14 first-half points before a scoreless second half.

Kevin Durant became USA Basketball’s all-time leading men’s or women’s Olympic scorer. With a dunk in the third quarter, he passed Lisa Leslie’s previous mark of 488 points. He finished with 11 points. LeBron James added 12 points and nine assists.

USA will take on Serbia on Thursday. Victor Wembanyama and France will face 2023 FIBA World Cup champion Germany in the other semifinal.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER38 updates

  • That’s it. USA rolls to a dominant 122-87 win over Brazil. Up next for USA, a semifinal matchup Thursday against Nikola Jokić and Serbia with a trip to the gold-medal game on the line.

  • LeBron James is back on the bench after going to the locker to tend to his eye. He got poked in the eye earlier in the second half and hasn’t played since. He appears to be fine.

  • With less than four minutes remaining, six USA players are in double figures, led by Devin Booker’s 18 points. Another balanced offensive effort. USA leads, 114-80.

  • Kevin Durant’s cooking after passing Lisa Leslie. A pull-up jumper puts USA over 100 points for a 101-71 lead early in the fourth.

  • The third quarter’s over, and USA remains in full control. USA leads, 94-71 with 10 minutes remaining. Devin Booker took over in the third with nine points to get to 18 for the game.

  • Kevin Durant breaks USA’s all-time Olympics scoring record

    Kevin Durant came into Tuesday’s game five points away from Lisa Leslie’s all-time USA Olympic career scoring mark of 488 points. A dunk in the third quarter put Durant at 489 career points in four Olympics and gave USA an 86-59 lead.

  • An emphatic Anthony Davis putback slam has USA up, 79-53.

  • LeBron James just got poked in the eye. Timeout on the court with USA leading, 74-51. He’s taking a break on the bench with a towel over his eye.

  • The second half is underway. USA scoring starts with a Jrue Holiday 3.

  • More first-half stats in USA’s favor:

    USA holds a 27-14 rebounding edge, a 19-10 edge in assists and 30-10 advantage in points in the paint.

  • Here’s Lebron to Tatum to cap a 15-0 first-half run for USA:

  • USA weathered the 10-0 Brazil run and closed the first half with a 15-0 run of its own. Jayson Tatum capped the run with an alley-oop dunk on an inbounds pass from LeBron James. USA is in full control with a 63-36 halftime lead.

    Joel Embiid leads the way with 15 points including three 3-pointers. LeBron James has 10, and Devin Booker has nine. USA’s turning defense into offense with five blocks and five steals leading to transition buckets on the other end. Americans are shooting 59% (23 of 39) from the field.

  • A three-point play for Embiid, and he’s up to 14 points late in the first half. USA’s back in control, leads 57-36.

  • More boos for Joel Embiid. He responds again with his third 3 and 11th point of the game. USA leads 48-34.

  • And we’re back. Stephen Curry hits 3 free throws after being fouled on a 3. 45-32, USA late in the second quarter.

  • There’s a clock malfunction. Unscheduled timeout with 4:03 remaining in the half.

  • Jayson Tatum ends the USA drought with a pair of free throws. USA leads, 42-31.

  • Brazil came out of the timeout with five more points to extend its run to 10-0. USA’s lead is whittled down to 40-31.

  • Broadcasters Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade can’t stop talking about Snoop Dogg, who has courtside seats, of course. NBC’s full-court press of Snoop promotion is undefeated.

  • A relative drought for USA. Brazil’s scored five unanswered to cut its deficit to 40-26. USA coach Steve Kerr calls a timeout midway through the second quarter.