USA vs. South Sudan Preview: Lopsided Matchup Sees USA Men’s Basketball Aim for Another Win as LeBron, Durant, and Curry Eye First Game Together

At 3 a.m. on July 21, the USA men’s basketball team will face off against South Sudan in a friendly match. Coincidentally, both teams are in the same group at the Paris Olympics, making this encounter a valuable test.

The USA men’s basketball team is taking the Paris Olympics seriously, assembling a formidable squad led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. The team aims to recover from its previous World Cup losses. They have already played three friendlies, against Canada, Australia, and Serbia, all strong opponents. However, they emerged victorious in each game, most recently defeating Serbia by 26 points. In that game, Curry found his rhythm, hitting six three-pointers for 24 points. The gap in strength between the USA and their upcoming opponent, South Sudan, is significant. The only question is how large the margin of victory will be for the USA, with a fourth consecutive win almost guaranteed.

In the previous three games, Durant was sidelined due to an injury (a calf strain). However, he has now recovered and has been training with the team. This friendly match could mark his return to action. If Durant returns, it would also be the first time he plays alongside LeBron and Curry, allowing them to build chemistry before the start of the Olympics. LeBron praised Durant, saying, “He brings more firepower, more leadership, and more experience in FIBA competitions. We welcome his return. We look forward to having him back, which will make us even stronger.”

Durant is a powerful force on the international stage, holding the top three spots for average points per game in a single Olympic tournament for Team USA, with the highest being 20.7 points in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Currently, only three starters have been confirmed for the USA: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid. If Durant returns, he will likely take one of the remaining spots, with the final spot possibly going to either Anthony Edwards or Jayson Tatum. Head coach Steve Kerr has yet to finalize the lineup. If Durant can regain full health, the USA’s strength will increase significantly, and we’ll see if he returns in this game.

South Sudan has played two friendlies so far, winning one and losing one, most recently beating the British men’s basketball team 84-81. This is their nation’s first appearance at the Olympics, but advancing from the group stage will be challenging, especially considering they are grouped with the USA, Serbia, and Puerto Rico. Their sole NBA player, Bol Bol, did not participate due to personal reasons, weakening their roster. The team is led by several former CBA imports, including Carrick Jones, Thon Maker, and Satnam Singh, as well as Lakers’ former player Gabriel.

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