The USA men’s national basketball team began its quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal with a resounding 110-84 victory over Serbia in their group stage opener.
The game started with Serbia taking a quick 10-2 lead, but Team USA quickly regained control, largely thanks to a stellar first-half performance from Kevin Durant. Durant, who missed all exhibition games due to a calf strain, scored 21 points on perfect shooting in the first half, helping the US to a nine-point lead at halftime. Durant finished with a team-high 23 points, while LeBron James added 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Serbia’s Nikola Jokic led his team with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Team USA’s balanced attack. Here’s a detailed look at how the Boston Celtics’ players Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White performed:
Kerr admits Tatum was a straight up DNP-CD. “I went with the combinations that made sense. That was for tonight. He handled it well. He’ll make his mark.” #Celtics #Paris2024
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 28, 2024
Jayson Tatum
- Final Stat Line: DNP
- Tatum did not play in the game, which led to speculation about his health. However, Tatum confirmed he was not sick, and Team USA coach Steve Kerr explained that the decision was based on strategic combinations that he felt were necessary for the matchup against Serbia. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was the only other Team USA player who did not see action.
Jrue Holiday
- Final Stat Line: 24 minutes, 15 points (6 for 8 FG; 3 for 5 3PT), four rebounds, three assists, two steals, +9
- Holiday was one of the standout players for Team USA. Starting the game, he showcased his defensive prowess with two steals and contributed significantly on offense, scoring 15 points on efficient shooting. His all-around performance was crucial in maintaining Team USA’s momentum throughout the game.
Derrick White
- Final Stat Line: 16 minutes, two points (1 for 2 FG; 0 for 1 3PT), one rebound, one assist, two steals, one block, +15
- White made his presence felt primarily on the defensive end. Although he only scored two points, his impact was seen in his defensive stats, matching Holiday with two steals and adding a block. White’s defensive contributions helped Team USA maintain their lead and he posted an impressive +15 plus-minus despite limited offensive output.
Team USA’s next game is against South Sudan on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. Fans will be looking forward to seeing Tatum in action and hoping for another strong performance from Holiday and White.
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