James hits game winner with 8 seconds left, US avoids upset and escapes South Sudan 101-100
Associated PressLeBron James saved the U.S. from what would have been a stunning loss. James’ layup with 8 seconds left was the go-ahead basket Saturday, and the U.S. Olympic team that’ll soon head to the Paris Games escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to avoid perhaps the biggest upset in the program’s history. JT Thor’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the Americans called timeout and put the ball in James’ hands. They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us, just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille.” An 18-0 run in the second half — James involved in most of it — was what really saved the U.S., turning a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead. Wenyen Gabriel banked in a 3-pointer to get South Sudan within 85-84, but James — his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers — connected on a 3 on the ensuing U.S. possession, and the Americans would eventually pull through by the slimmest of margins.
History of this topic
LeBron James is caught leaving trendy Paris restaurant at 3am after hanging with Team USA's Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo
Daily Mail
Blunder at Paris Olympics as wrong anthem played for South Sudan during men's basketball event
Hindustan TimesSouth Sudan stuns Puerto Rico 90-79 to claim its first ever Olympic victory
Associated PressLeBron James scores final 11 points for US in 92-88 win over Germany as pre-Olympic tour ends
Associated Press
LeBron James’ late scoring spree propels Team USA past Germany in final pre-Olympic game
New York TimesThe wake-up call for the US men’s basketball team arrives with the Paris Olympics a few days away
Associated Press
Team USA survives scare in Olympic warmup, scraping past South Sudan 101-100
CNN
Team USA’s narrow win over South Sudan shows Olympic favorites can’t coast to gold
New York TimesSouth Sudan nearly beat the US in an Olympic tuneup. Here’s how it happened
Associated Press
LeBron James’ last-minute layup gives U.S. one-point win over South Sudan
LA Times
Team USA survives scare from South Sudan, storms back to avoid stunning upset
New York TimesDiscover Related
