South Sudan’s basketball staff practically pulled off a shocking upset of a United States staff of NBA superstars earlier than shedding 101-100 in an Olympic warm-up recreation in London on Saturday. LeBron James, 39, the NBA’s all-time scoring chief, registered a game-high 25 factors, together with the deciding level on a driving layup with eight seconds left on the O2 Area. South Sudan, who led 58-44 at halftime, took a late lead after an 8-0 scoring run and appeared poised to tug off one of many greatest upsets in worldwide basketball earlier than James saved the day.
“The final one was good for us — simply to really feel that, to really feel what it may be like in Paris,” US coach Steve Kerr mentioned.
“Good expertise for us. Good reminder that after we play in opposition to groups, it is the most important expertise of their lives and we should always all stay up for enjoying like that.”
JT Thor, who has performed for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets for the previous three seasons, sank a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to provide South Sudan a 100-99 lead.
After James hit the successful shot, South Sudan had one remaining possession however Karlik Jones missed a jumper with six seconds left and Wenien Gabriel missed two put-back makes an attempt earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
“South Sudan was wonderful,” Kerr mentioned. “I did not do an amazing job getting ready my staff. We did not focus sufficient on what they’re able to and that is on me.
“I feel that actually gave South Sudan some confidence early on.
“As soon as we acquired it going within the second half, they’d already knocked down a bunch of threes and had been feeling actually good about themselves.”
It was James who sparked a 23-5 US run from late within the third quarter to early within the fourth.
“We have now to take a step ahead,” mentioned James, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time NBA champion.
“A whole lot of the groups we’re enjoying have been practising for a month or months prematurely and we would have two weeks collectively.
“So each recreation, each movie session, we get a chance. We have now to attempt to profit from it, not take a step again.”
Cameroon-born Joel Embiid, who turned a US citizen in 2022, added 14 factors and 7 rebounds for the People.
Anthony Davis got here off the bench to provide 15 factors and 11 rebounds for the US squad of NBA stars.
“We’re not one hundred pc collectively, as we noticed tonight,” Davis mentioned, “however like I mentioned, every little thing is manageable.”
Marial Shayk had 24 factors, Jones added 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for South Sudan, ranked thirty third on the earth, and Thor had 14 factors off the bench.
Shayk performed in China and briefly with Embiid in Philadelphia whereas Jones performed for perennial Serbian energy Partizan.
The People will face South Sudan once more within the group stage of the Olympics in Lille on July 31.
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