In a thrilling exhibition match at the O2 Arena in London, Team USA narrowly edged out South Sudan with a dramatic 101-100 victory on Saturday. The game, filled with intense back-and-forth action, saw LeBron James emerge as the hero, making a game-winning layup with just eight seconds left on the clock.
LeBron James Shines
LeBron James was in sensational form, leading Team USA with 23 points on an impressive 9-for-13 shooting performance. In addition to his scoring prowess, he contributed six rebounds and seven assists in just 23 minutes of play. "Team USA, as usual, was at their best when their defense led to offense," noted observers, underscoring the effectiveness of James' all-around game.
Team USA started the game with a dominant 12-2 run, showcasing their offensive firepower early on. However, South Sudan quickly found their rhythm, and by halftime, they had surged to a 14-point lead, putting significant pressure on the American squad.
South Sudan's Strong Performance
Despite the narrow loss, South Sudan had several standout performances. Carlik Jones recorded a remarkable triple-double, amassing 15 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. Marial Shayok also made his mark, scoring 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including an impressive 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. South Sudan's three-point shooting was a key factor in their competitiveness, as they converted 14 of their 33 attempts, a notable 42.4% success rate.
However, the game was not without its high-pressure moments. In the closing seconds, Anthony Edwards made a crucial defensive play, stripping the ball from Wenyen Gabriel to prevent a game-changing move for South Sudan. Gabriel narrowly missed an attempted putback after a floater from Jones, sealing Team USA's slim victory.
Steve Kerr's Tactical Moves
Steve Kerr's coaching strategies were also on display, as he put his second unit on the floor in the third quarter. This decision allowed the team to maintain energy and control, even as South Sudan mounted their comeback. Debutant White contributed five assists in just 11 minutes, showcasing his potential for future games. "I'd be curious to see what lineups with both Haliburton and White look like, but it's unclear if Kerr will even experiment with them," a comment from a previous game review indicated, adding an interesting layer of strategic speculation for the future matchups.
Other Notable Contributions
Joel Embiid also had a solid outing for Team USA, adding 14 points on efficient 5-for-6 shooting in 18 minutes, along with seven rebounds and two assists. Despite the struggles from the three-point line, with the team making only 7 of their 28 attempts, they managed to win the turnover battle 15-12, a critical factor in this tightly contested game.
As Team USA prepares for their next exhibition game against Germany on Monday at 3 p.m. ET, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how Kerr's strategies evolve and how players like White and Haliburton are integrated into the lineup. The close contest against South Sudan highlighted both the strengths and areas for improvement for the American team, setting the stage for an exciting matchup in London.