Paris 2024 Men’s Basketball: Team USA Dominates South Sudan with Superior Performance
South Sudan coach Royal Ivey anticipated a challenging match on Wednesday when Team USA revamped its starting lineup for their rematch, opting for a faster, more athletic squad to counter the Sudanese speed.
The new lineup immediately set the tone by scoring the first three baskets, signaling a more focused and determined approach than in their June 20 friendly in London, where Team USA narrowly won thanks to LeBron James' late-game heroics.
This time, there was no suspense. Team USA maintained the lead for the final 36 minutes and six seconds, with five players scoring in double figures, leading to a 103-86 victory at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium. With this win, Team USA leads Group C with a 2-0 record, securing a spot in the knockout round in Paris and showcasing the depth of Steve Kerr’s roster.
Notably, Jayson Tatum started after sitting out Sunday’s game against Serbia, while former NBA MVP Joel Embiid was benched. Tyrese Haliburton, previously out of the rotation for most of the exhibition games, made an early impact by hitting two three-pointers.
