USA picks up second win over South Sudan in 11 days, secure quarterfinals bid

Less than two weeks after a slim one-point escape against South Sudan, Team USA put a stamp on another win over the country as the path to the gold medal continues. 

The US stomped South Sudan, 103-86, Wednesday, July 31 from the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in France. Eleven days ago, South Sudan held the lead for more than half of its one-point loss to the perennial international powerhouse.

By picking up the win, the Americans locked up a spot in the quarterfinals. They currently stand as the only undefeated team in Group C while South Sudan and Serbia have split their first two and Puerto Rico went winless in both first group play games.

To wrap up the group play stage, this year’s men’s national team will face the aforementioned Puerto Rico Saturday, Aug. 3 from the same venue. Tip-off is slated for 8:15 a.m.

While head coach Steve Kerr made a few changes to the starting lineup, it was the team’s bench that carried the team to victory in a lopsided showing. As a team, the US bench unit outscored its counterparts, 66-14.

Reserves Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton were the stars of some early three-point success in the second quarter as both coasted to 20 combined points. In his Olympic debut, the latter drilled two threes in his first five-plus minutes of the game.

Backup center Bam Adebayo led the team with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He was fueled by a start that saw him shoot 6-for-6 in the first half and not encounter his first miss until the 3:49-mark of the third quarter.

After building a lead as large as 20 points, the margin was trimmed to just 10 points by South Sudan in the third quarter before a big three from second-unit guard Derrick White. He was one of six players with double-digit scoring nights.

Of the six players who reached double-digit points, four came from the bench.

Reserve guard Anthony Edwards finished with 13 points after a late surge while starter Devin Booker ended the night with 12 points. Booker has racked up back-to-back double-digit scoring outings to open this Olympic run.

Forward LeBron James was the other starter in double-figures, closing with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

After starting against Serbia, center Joel Embiid was held out of this one with a DNP. Following the game, Kerr expressed his intention to start for the former NBA MVP against Puerto Rico citing matchups.

Previously having recorded a triple-double in the first meeting between the two teams, South Sudan guard Carlik Jones had a slow start to the night in this one. He was held scoreless in the first quarter and would only score four first half points on his way to 18 points on 19 field goal attempts.

Forward Nuni Omot led all scorers with 24 points in the contest.