U.S. Advances Toward Fifth Consecutive Gold with Victory Over South Sudan; Serbia Dominates Puerto Rico

The United States men’s basketball team continued their quest for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal with a decisive 103-86 win over debutant South Sudan on Wednesday. Despite a strong start by South Sudan, led by NBA player Royal Ivey, the U.S. overcame early mistakes and poor shooting to secure a commanding lead by halftime.

Kevin Durant, fully recovered from injury, delivered a standout performance with 14 points, including 8 of 9 from the free-throw line. LeBron James and Derrick White also impressed, combining for 22 points with several spectacular dunks. Bam Adebayo led the U.S. with 18 points, while Durant praised South Sudan’s intensity and inspiring history.

Serbia Crushes Puerto Rico

In another Group C match, Serbia dominated Puerto Rico with a 107-66 victory. Filip Petrusev and Nikola Jokic were pivotal in Serbia’s win, contributing a combined 29 points. The Serbian team’s dominance was evident as they built an early lead and maintained control throughout the game.

Women’s Basketball Highlights

In women’s basketball, Spain narrowly defeated Puerto Rico 63-62 in a thrilling finish. Megan Gustafson shone with 18 points and 13 rebounds for Spain. Despite a significant lead by Puerto Rico, Laura Gil secured Spain’s victory with a free throw in the final second.

Serbia also excelled, overcoming China 81-59. Tina Krajisnik and Yvonne Anderson led Serbia with 12 and 15 points, respectively. Despite a strong start by China, the Serbian team’s second-half performance proved too much for their opponents.

Upcoming Matches

Spain and Serbia, having both secured spots in the quarterfinals, will face off in their final pool game on Saturday. Meanwhile, China and Puerto Rico will have one last chance to advance by securing a top position among the third-placed teams in their group stage matches.