LeBron James Leads US Men’s Basketball Team to Victory Over Germany in Final Pre-Olympic Tune-Up
In their final exhibition game before the Paris Olympics, the US men’s basketball team, led by LeBron James, held off World Cup champion Germany 92-88 in London on Monday night. James scored the final 11 points for the Americans, including a clutch layup with 8 seconds left, to secure the win.
The four-time reigning Olympic gold medalists finished their exhibition slate 5-0, but it was not without its challenges. Canada gave the US issues at times, Australia came from behind to make things interesting, and South Sudan nearly pulled off an upset as a 43.5-point underdog. Germany, however, was the only team to lead the US with 4 minutes left on Monday.
James, who was announced earlier in the day as the male flagbearer for the Americans in Friday night’s opening ceremony, came through time and time again down the stretch. He finished with 20 points, while Joel Embiid scored 15, Stephen Curry had 13, and Anthony Edwards finished with 11.
The US team will now head to Paris, where they will face Serbia in their first Olympic game on Sunday. “We’ve had every experience,” Curry said. “Now it’s obviously a matter of showing up when the lights are bright next week. I think we’re ready. I think we’re prepared. Now we have to perform.”
The US team struggled from beyond the arc, getting outscored by 21 points from 3-point range. Germany was 13 for 45 from deep, while the US was 6 for 17. The Americans also had 14 turnovers to Germany’s seven.
Kevin Durant, who is still recovering from a calf strain, did not play and has not appeared in a real game since late April. He is expected to be ready for the Olympics.
The Paris Olympics are set to start this weekend, and the US men’s basketball team is looking to make it five gold medals in a row.