US barely escapes defeat from South Sudan with dramatic score

The U.S. narrowly avoided a massive shock against South Sudan in a dramatic 101-100 win in London. Falling behind by 16 points early on, the U.S. managed a remarkable comeback. South Sudan was ahead 58-42 in the second quarter and maintained a 14-point lead at halftime in this Olympics warm-up at the O2 Arena. This is prepared by SSP.

An 18-0 run by the U.S. in the second half transformed their fate, temporarily putting them ahead. Yet, South Sudan showed resilience, retaking the lead with just 20 seconds left. LeBron James then hit a crucial lay-up with 8 seconds remaining to clinch the victory, finishing the game with 25 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

While Marial Shayok scored 25 points for South Sudan and JT Thor's late three-pointer nearly secured the upset, the USA's performance, particularly in the second half, saw them eke out the win. The USA's 12-man roster, featuring elite NBA talent, found it surprisingly tough against a South Sudan team with just four players having NBA experience.

Both teams will meet again in Group C of the 2024 Olympics on July 31. U.S. coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the tough contest as a valuable experience, emphasizing the need for focus as every game against them is the biggest for their opponents. Despite disrupted preparations due to London traffic, the lesson learned as summed up by James is crucial. "We went out there to get better," he said, reflecting on the encounter with South Sudan, ranked 33rd globally and heading to their first Olympics.

The U.S. won all their pre-Olympic exhibition games, their final warm-up against Germany set for Monday. Whatever their preparation hiccups, the reigning Olympic champions know no team will easily hand them victory, as South Sudan amply demonstrated in London.