South Sudan came to the Paris Games riding a wave of firsts. The war-torn nation is playing in its first Olympic basketball tournament and entered this matchup with the U.S. coming off its first Olympic victory. It can add one more milestone: it’s first Olympic loss. South Sudan took the U.S.
Nuni Omot, of South Sudan , shoots over Devin Booker, of the United States, in a men’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. Derrick White, of the United States, blocks the shot of Carlik Jones, of South Sudan , in a men’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France.
The war-torn 13-year-old nation qualified for its first Olympic basketball tournament and entered Wednesday’s matchup with the U.S. coming off itsSouth Sudan took the U.S. to the brink in a one-point loss exhibition loss leading up to the Games, using its speed and scrappiness to nearly upend the superior talent of the NBA stars.
On Wednesday, despite a few highlights and an early flurry to briefly take the lead, South Sudan was overmatched in the rematch, losing 103—86. South Sudan trailed by as many as 21 in the first half before cutting it down to 12 in the fourth quarter. But the clock, and a stronger close by the U.S. in Round 2, were too much to overcome.This time, a quick 6-0 deficit necessitated that South Sudan coach Royal Ivey use his first timeout 1:31 into the game to try to calm his team down.
It wasn’t as if the crowd inside Pierre Mauroy Stadium wasn’t rooting for South Sudan to pull off the upset.And Omot was dressed for the spotlight, wearing light green Nikes with silver streaks on the back that glittered under the stadium lights.South Sudan will face Serbia on Saturday in its last group-stage game, with the winner joining the U.S. in Paris for the knockout round.
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