Takeaways from the US Olympic team’s 101-100 win over South Sudan in an exhibition game Saturday in London:
At 39, 40 in a row
LeBron James’ layup with 8 seconds left was the game-winner, and the win marked the 40th consecutive time that the Americans have won an international game with the NBA’s all-time scoring leader — at 39, set to become the oldest US men’s basketball Olympian ever — in uniform.
Seems like being in London works for King James. Playing in the same building as he did during the 2012 London Olympics — O2 Arena, which was called North Greenwich Arena during those games a dozen years ago — James came up big down the stretch.
In that gold medal game against Spain in 2012, James hit a game-sealing 3-pointer with about 2 minutes left to cap a season where he won NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP, an NBA title with the Miami Heat and Olympic gold.
Respect for South Sudan
South Sudan got this Olympic berth based on its World Cup finish last year. Its national federation is led by former NBA player Luol Deng, and the team is coached by former NBA guard and now Houston assistant coach Royal Ivey.
James gave both men a ton of credit postgame Saturday.
“To have that representation, to have that type of leadership over there, teaching them the right way how to play the game, that’s good. That’s great, actually,” James said. “The game is worldwide. There’s not one place that you don’t see the game being played. I think that’s the beauty of it. The game of basketball brings together so many people.”
Waiting for KD
Kevin Durant was on the floor getting some warmup shots up, but the Americans were again without the three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Durant returned to practice Friday after about three weeks of dealing with a calf strain. It’s possible that he plays in the final US tune-up on Monday against Germany in London. Otherwise, he’ll go into the Olympics not having gotten any true game action since April 28 when his Phoenix Suns were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Key Number
South Sudan made 14 3-pointers, while the US made seven. The US reserves were 1 for 11 from beyond the arc.
South Sudan nearly beat the US in an Olympic tuneup. Here’s how it happened
https://arab.news/8sckz
South Sudan nearly beat the US in an Olympic tuneup. Here’s how it happened
- South Sudan made 14 3-pointers, while the US made seven. The US reserves were 1 for 11 from beyond the arc
Injured Aubameyang to miss Gabon’s first game at Cup of Nations
- A federation statement said: “The player is unavailable for the December 24 match against Cameroon”
- “Olympique de Marseille’s medical staff requested that Aubameyang receive medical treatment in Marseille”
RABAT: Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss Gabon’s opening match at the Africa Cup of Nations next week but is expected to recover from a thigh injury for their next two Group F games at the tournament in Morocco.
The 36-year-old Aubameyang, long his country’s talisman, was forced off with an injury as Olympique de Marseille beat AS Monaco in Ligue 1 on Sunday, and the Gabonese Football Federation said he was staying in France for treatment before joining up with the squad.
“Olympique de Marseille’s medical staff requested that Aubameyang receive medical treatment in Marseille after consulting with the national team’s medical staff,” said a federation statement.
“The player is unavailable for the December 24 match against Cameroon. Depending on his clinical and imaging progress, participation in the December 28 match against Mozambique is possible.” Both games are to be played in Agadir.
Gabon, who play defending champions Ivory Coast on December 31 in Marrakech, are also likely to have to make a change in defense with Metz center back Michel Mboula doubtful for the tournament due to a thigh injury.
