LeBron James to the rescue.
The Los Angeles Lakers star came to save the day for Team USA, hitting the go-ahead layup with eight seconds to go as the Americans escaped with a thrilling 101-100 win over South Sudan in the USA Basketball Showcase in London.
LeBron went for 25 points and shot 10/14, none bigger than his game-winner inside the final seconds that allowed Team USA to storm back from a 16-point deficit.
IT'S WHAT HE DOES. 🥶
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 20, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABMNT x 📺 @FoxSports pic.twitter.com/zGBz6TJ54T
Down one, James drove past his initial defender and made a layup over former Lakers teammate Wenyen Gabriel, giving Team USA the lead with exactly eight seconds left.
To go along with his 25 points, LeBron also had six rebounds and seven assists. Longtime Lakers running mate Anthony Davis added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.
Common AD double-double.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 20, 2024
🇺🇸 15 pts
🇺🇸 11 reb
🇺🇸 2 blk#USABMNT x @AntDavis23 pic.twitter.com/VluvMLzSjX
The King did his thing. 👑
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 20, 2024
🇺🇸 25 pts
🇺🇸 7 ast
🇺🇸 6 reb#USABMNT x @KingJames pic.twitter.com/pZluIQ4s96
Team USA used a 16-0 run to close out the third quarter to briefly take control of the game, only for the Bright Stars to stage a comeback of their own.
Down seven inside three minutes to play, Marial Shayok and JT Thor conspired to score eight straight, with Thor’s three-pointer with 20 seconds to go giving South Sudan the lead.
It only set up LeBron’s heroics.
The victory pushed Team USA to a clean 4-0 in the USA Basketball Showcase. They will close their preparation games for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a showdown against world champion Germany on July 22.
South Sudan, first-timers in the Olympics after impressing in their first FIBA World Cup last year, got 24 points from Shayok. Carlik Jones finished with a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
