Team USA defeated Brazil 122-87 on Tuesday in the men’s basketball quarterfinals of the 2024 Summer Olympics at Bercy Arena in Paris.
Brazil cut its deficit to single digits in the second quarter with a 10-0 run, but Team USA’s defense then locked in, going on a 15-0 run of its own to end the half with a 27-point lead.
After three quarters, Team USA had already scored 94 points. The talent gap was evident, and Team USA’s offense was too much to handle. Again, a monster Steph Curry game was not the solution for the Americans.
Curry scored only seven points and spent the entire second half admiring the scenery from the bench. Devin Booker led Team USA with 18 points, giving them four different top scorers in four games at the Olympics. Six US players scored ten or more points, whereas just two Brazilians did.
Kevin Durant strengthened his case as the best basketball player in Olympic history, surpassing Lisa Leslie for the most career points by a Team USA member, men’s or women’s, of all time. Durant scored 11 points from the bench.
They were not tested, but Team USA could not have performed better to reach the semi-finals.
Team USA will now play Serbia at noon PT on Thursday. The winner will take on either France or Germany in the finals.
Here are three lessons from Team USA’s 35-point victory.
7-Point Steph: Team USA Defeated Brazil To Move To The Semi-finals
It was another blowout win for Team USA, another day when Curry’s outburst was unnecessary.
Curry was perfect in the first half, scoring seven points on two of two shots. He was fouled on his only 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws. Curry made two layups in the first half. Curry got fouled on his only shot in the second quarter, a 3-pointer.
Curry took one shot in the third quarter, missing a three-pointer more than halfway through the period. Curry rested and relaxed on the bench for the whole fourth quarter. He finished with seven points on 2-of-3 shooting and missed his only three-point attempt. Curry played more than 16 minutes and had a plus-18 rating.
Curry was optional to be Team USA’s top scorer in group play or the quarterfinals. Now, a medal, particularly gold, is in play. A Steph Show can come anytime, significantly as the stakes rise.
Gui Santo’s Game
Curry’s youthful Warriors teammate, not any of Team USA’s superstars, scored the first points of Tuesday’s knockout game. Gui Santos immediately impacted both sides, getting a steal off a Joel Embiid error and completing an easy layup. But he stagnated shortly after.
Santos missed his first two shots, but after that initial layup, he scored a three-pointer again in the first minute of the second half. The Warriors forward had two points, two rebounds, and two steals in the first half, but he also committed two fouls and was minus-13 after two quarters.
He added five more points in the second half, bringing his total to seven on three of eight shots. Santos, 22, had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, but he also committed four fouls, which led the squad. He was minus-18 in 20 minutes.
The Warriors’ two players scored seven points each.
What’s next?
On Thursday, Team USA will face Denver Nuggets three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and his Serbian colleagues in their third game of the summer.
Team USA defeated Serbia by 26 points in each of their first two games, first in a series of five exhibition games and then to open Group C play at the Olympics. However, it was evident in their last match how much of an influence Jokic makes.
Serbia was minus-26 during the nine-plus minutes. Jokic did not play in the last game against the Americans. Remember that Serbia lost by precisely 26 points. Jokic’s customary stat line of 21 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals helped him reach the semi-finals with a five-point win over Australia on Tuesday. He’s going to get him, and Team USA coach Steve Kerr is aware of it.
Stopping Serbia entails containing those around Jokic. In a dramatic overtime win over Australia on Tuesday, Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while six Serbians scored in double figures. They also pushed Australia to commit 20 turnovers, something Team USA should take note of.
Team USA should be on their way to a gold medal game against France or Germany. The Joker will make sure they sweat it out in the semi-finals.
In conclusion, Stephen Curry and Team USA’s victory over Brazil was credited to their preparation, teamwork, and skill. The game showcased their offensive prowess, defensive strength, and depth, paving the way for an entertaining semi-finals. As they go, the lessons learned from this dominant performance will be critical in their quest for the championship.
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Read More: USA Advances To The Semifinals With A Dominant Win Over Brazil.
