The United States men’s national basketball team faced a tight showdown in their final pre-Olympic game against Germany, and it was LeBron James who secured the victory for Team USA.
In a dramatic finale, James scored 11 points in the final four minutes to lift the Americans to a 92-88 victory on Monday. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer sparked the comeback with a dunk, giving Team USA an 83-82 lead with less than four minutes remaining. He followed it up with a steal and a quick conversion to extend the lead to 85-82.
James continued his decisive performance by hitting two free throws after being fouled on a defensive rebound, extending the lead to five points. Despite Germany’s four-point run, which closed the gap to one point with 1:43 remaining, James responded with a crucial three-pointer, making the score 90-86. Another defensive save by the United States allowed James to drive into the paint for his final basket, securing a 92-86 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Germany managed just one more basket, with just one second remaining on the clock.
James finished the game as the top scorer with 20 points, shooting an impressive 8-of-11 from the field. He also contributed six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block, demonstrating his all-around ability.
The win marked a significant day for James, who was also named the men’s flag bearer for Team USA in the opening ceremony of the upcoming Olympics, becoming the first U.S. men’s basketball player to receive the honor.
Team USA finished their exhibition series with a perfect 5-0 record. However, they had to fight hard for their last two wins, including a narrow victory over South Sudan on Saturday. Despite these close matches, Team USA remains the favorite to win the men’s basketball gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. They will open their Olympic campaign against Serbia on Sunday, a team they defeated 105-79 in a recent exhibition game.