July 21, (THEWILL) – Team USA claimed a tight 101-100 victory against South Sudan in a pre-Olympic exhibition match in London on Saturday. LeBron James emerged as the hero, scoring a crucial layup with only eight seconds remaining to clinch the win.
James led the American team with 25 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. His Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Anthony Davis, contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Joel Embiid added 14 points and seven rebounds.
South Sudan put up a strong fight, leading 58-44 at halftime. However, Team USA rallied in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 37-18 to take an 81-76 lead into the final period. Marial Shayok topped the scoring for South Sudan with 24 points, while Carlik Jones recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
USA coach Steve Kerr acknowledged his team’s lack of preparation, stating: “I did not do a great job preparing our team. We did not focus enough on what they are capable of and that is on me.” He added that the close finish would benefit the team in preparing for the upcoming Olympics.
Team USA will face Germany in their final exhibition game on Monday, before heading to Paris for the Olympics. Their first group stage match is scheduled against Serbia on July 28, in Lille, France.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
